NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has created 18 new awards to support visionary ideas to improve aerospace technologies in areas ranging from the exploration of the solar system to understanding the universe. The 18 NIAC Phase I awards total $3.2 million.

Posted July 30, 2026

NIAC Studies

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

NIAC 2026 Selections

Phase I Saptarshi BandyopadhyayDimming the Sun (DimSun) Using Controllable Dust Cloud to Reduce Solar InsolationNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I David BugbyCombinatory Architecture offering Neomobility, on-Venus Adaptability, and Survivability (CANVAS)NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

Posted July 21, 2026

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

NIAC Studies

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Actively Steerable Femtosat Constellations for In-situ Exploration of Saturn’s Rings, Atmosphere, and Magnetosphere

Michael RubensteinNorthwestern University, Chicago We propose a mission to use ~10,000 actively steerable femtosats to map the ring composition, atmospheric composition and density, and the magnetic field distribution of Saturn.

Posted July 21, 2026

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

NIAC Studies

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

ECLIPSE – Efficient variable Conductivity Lunar Insulator for Passive Surveyor Environmental control

Austin Phoenix Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State A disaggregated lunar infrastructure requires novel thermal management methods to enable future lunar operations.

Posted July 21, 2026

NIAC Studies

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys

Pablo Sobron SanchezSETI Institute This proposal explores a new class of reconnaissance spacecraft that map minerals from orbit using Raman spectroscopy during high-speed flybys–without landing, sample return, or extended dwell.

Posted July 21, 2026

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

NIAC Studies

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Mapping Alien Continents: Achieving Optical VLBI for Exoplanet Imaging

Paul StankusBrookhaven Science Associates The scientific goal of the proposed work will be reconstructing the image, ie resolving surface features, of an Earth-like exoplanet around a nearby star as seen in visible light. The innovation is in two stages.

Posted July 21, 2026

Space Technology Mission Directorate

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

NIAC Studies

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Photophoretic Tracers for Near-Space Remote Sensing at 30-100 km Altitudes

Benjamin SchaferRarified Technologies, Inc. We propose a new approach to atmospheric sensing at 30-100 km altitudes using photophoretically levitating tracers. These lightweight structures harness sunlight to remain suspended for up to months at controlled altitudes and can be remotely tracked by satellite-based lidar or radar.

Posted July 21, 2026

NIAC Studies

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Plasmon-Enhanced Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (PRTPV) Power Generation for Interstellar Missions

Keunhan ParkUniversity of Utah This proposal seeks to develop a transformative energy system — the plasmon-enhanced radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (PRTPV) generator — that significantly surpasses the performance of current radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) in both specific power and efficiency.

Posted July 21, 2026

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

NIAC Studies

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

PRAXIS: Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling

Marco QuadrelliNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Humanity has never touched the particles of a planetary ring, but if we were able to get close enough and sample them, it will transform understanding of ring structure and origins for Saturn (dense), Uranus and Neptune (tenuous), rings of other objects such as Centaurs Chariklo and Chiron, and even ear

Posted July 21, 2026

NIAC Studies

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program

Research and Technology Mission Directorate

Precision Astrometry Using Optically Independent Spacecraft for Graviational Wave Detection

Paul StankusBrookhaven Science Associates The scientific goal is to enable a new method for observing gravitational waves at low frequencies, based on the astrometric GW signature — gravitational waves passing by the Earth will cause a (very small) coordinated apparent motion of all sky objects.

Posted July 21, 2026