Space Technology Mission Directorate

As NASA continues to innovate for the benefit of humanity, agency inventions that use new structures to harness sunlight for space travel, enable communications with spacecraft at record-breaking distances, and determine the habitability of a moon of Jupiter, were named Wednesday among TIME’s Inventions of 2024.

Posted October 30, 2024

General

Ames Research Center

CubeSats

Marshall Space Flight Center

Small Satellite Missions

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Begins New Deployable Solar Array Tech Demo on Pathfinder Spacecraft

NASA recently evaluated initial flight data and imagery from Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-4 (PTD-4), confirming proper checkout of the spacecraft’s systems including its on-board electronics as well as the payload’s support systems such as the small onboard camera.

Posted October 23, 2024

Ames Research Center

Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business

Small Satellite Missions

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Space Sustainability

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Getting SSPICY: NASA Funds Orbital Debris Inspection Mission

NASA is advancing an innovative approach to enabling commercial inspection of defunct, or inoperable, satellites in low Earth orbit, a precursor to capturing and repairing or removing the satellites.

Posted September 25, 2024

Langley Research Center

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Robotic Moving ‘Crew’ Preps for Work on Moon

As NASA moves forward with efforts to establish a long-term presence on the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign, safely moving cargo from landers to the lunar surface is a crucial capability. Whether the cargo, also known as payloads, are small scientific experiments or large technology to build infrastructure, there won’t be a crew […]

Posted September 25, 2024

Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program

Artemis

Centennial Challenges

Glenn Research Center

Marshall Space Flight Center

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA’s Lunar Challenge Participants to Showcase Innovations During Awards

Editor’s note: This media advisory was updated Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, with a correct phone number for the media contact at NASA’s Glenn Research Center.

Posted September 13, 2024

General

Ames Research Center

Langley Research Center

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Like a Diamond in the Sky: How to Spot NASA’s Solar Sail Demo in Orbit

Now that its reflective sail has deployed fully open in orbit, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System can be seen in the night sky from many locations across the world! Stargazers can join NASA’s #SpotTheSail campaign by using the NASA app on mobile platforms to find out when the spacecraft will be visible at their location. The app, […]

Posted September 9, 2024

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Technology

OSAM-1 Partnership Opportunity: Request for Information

NASA is exploring potential partnerships for alternate use cases for the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) flight hardware, test facilities, and experienced personnel. Through a Request for Information for OSAM-1 Partnerships released Sept. 5, 2024, NASA seeks interest from U.S.

Posted September 6, 2024

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Technology

NASA to Support DARPA Robotic Satellite Servicing Program

NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have signed an interagency agreement to collaborate on a satellite servicing demonstration in geosynchronous Earth orbit, where hundreds of satellites provide communications, meteorological, national security, and other vital functions. Under this agreement, NASA will provide subject m

Posted September 5, 2024

Space Technology Mission Directorate

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Biological & Physical Sciences

Flight Opportunities Program

Physical Sciences Program

Technology

Technology for Space Travel