Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Administrator Names New Head of Space Technology

Dr. Kurt “Spuds” Vogel will serve as the new associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Tuesday. His appointment is effective immediately. Vogel succeeds James Reuter, who retired from the agency in June 2023. Dr.

Posted January 16, 2024

Glenn Research Center

Artemis

Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)

Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM)

Marshall Space Flight Center

Moons

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Tech Demo Missions

Technology Demonstration

Brr, It’s Cold in Here! NASA’s Cryo Efforts Beyond the Atmosphere

Establishing sustained operations at the Moon and Mars presents a multitude of opportunities and challenges NASA has yet to encounter. Many of these activities require new technologies and processes to ensure the agency is prepared for its ambitious Artemis missions and those beyond.

Posted January 11, 2024

Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS)

Space Technology Mission Directorate

New Study Updates NASA on Space-Based Solar Power

Space-based solar power offers tantalizing possibilities for sustainable energy – in the future, orbital collection systems could harvest energy in space, and beam it wirelessly back to Earth. These systems could serve remote locations across the planet to supplement the terrestrial power transmission infrastructure required today.

Posted January 11, 2024

Glenn Research Center

Ames Research Center

Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Technology

Funding Future Tech: NASA Names 2024 Innovative Concept Studies

NASA selected the 2024 Phase I awardees for its program to fund ideas that could innovate for the benefit of all and transform future agency missions. From proposals to explore low Earth orbit to the stars, the 13 concepts chosen stem from companies and institutions across the United States. The NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) […]

Posted January 4, 2024

SBIR STTR

Ames Research Center

General

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA’s New Investments in Commercialization-Focused Small Businesses

As part of NASA’s ongoing commitment to supporting American innovators and advancing new aerospace technologies the agency announced its second round of Phase I awards for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ignite.

Posted December 20, 2023

Flight Opportunities Program

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Game Changing Development Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA, Partners Continue to Advance Space Tech on Suborbital Flights

Living and working in space requires getting ready a bit closer to Earth. Through a suborbital flight test on Dec. 19, 2023 with industry provider Blue Origin, NASA’s Flight Opportunities program is helping 14 research payloads move one step toward future space missions and commercial applications.

Posted December 20, 2023

Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC)

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Psyche Mission

Space Communications & Navigation Program

Space Operations Mission Directorate

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Tech Demo Missions

NASA’s Tech Demo Streams First Video From Deep Space via Laser

The video, featuring a cat named Taters, was sent back from nearly 19 million miles away by NASA’s laser communications demonstration, marking a historic milestone. NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec.

Posted December 18, 2023

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Aeronautics

Air Traffic Solutions

Drones & You

Earth Science

Earth's Atmosphere

NASA Aircraft

Science Mission Directorate

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Supersonic Flight

Armstrong Flight Research Center: A Year in Review

It was an abundant year of innovation, exploration, and inspiration for NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. NASA Armstrong continues to demonstrate America’s leadership in aeronautics, Earth and space science, and aerospace technology.

Posted December 15, 2023

General

Ames Research Center

Small Satellite Missions

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Selects Universities to Support Small Spacecraft Technologies

Eight U.S.

Posted December 8, 2023

Space Technology Mission Directorate

For Colleges & Universities

Game Changing Development Program

General

Get Involved

Learning Resources

Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium

Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative

NASA Directorates

University of Utah takes top honors in BIG Idea Lunar Forge Challenge

Through Artemis, NASA plans to conduct long-duration human and robotic missions on the lunar surface in preparation for future crewed exploration of Mars. Expanding exploration capabilities requires a robust lunar infrastructure, including practical and cost-effective ways to construct a lunar base.

Posted November 21, 2023