Oct 7 2015

From The Space Library

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Revision as of 05:18, 16 October 2015

Release 15-194 NASA Offers Licenses of Patented Technologies to Start-Up Companies NASA is unveiling a new opportunity for start-up companies to license patented NASA technology with no up-front payment. The Startup NASA initiative addresses two common problems start-ups face: raising capital and securing intellectual property rights.

Aimed at encouraging the growth of high-tech businesses and advancing American innovation, NASA's Technology Transfer Program within the Office of the Chief Technologist designed this initiative to allow start-up companies to choose from a diverse portfolio of more than 1,200 patented NASA technologies that range from materials and coatings to sensors, aeronautics technologies, instrumentation and more.

"The Startup NASA initiative leverages the results of our cutting-edge research and development so entrepreneurs can take that research -- and some risks -- to create new products and new services," said David Miller, NASA's chief technologist.

Finding the technologies available for license is simply a click away. NASA has created a streamlined, online patent portfolio covering 15 categories and packed with patents protected by the U.S. government. Once a desired technology is identified, an online application can be filled out and submitted through the website.

Although the license itself is free, the start-up companies must adhere to the following guidelines:

• This offer is open only to companies formed with the express intent of commercializing the licensed NASA technology.
• "No up-front payment" means NASA waives the initial licensing fees, and there are no minimum fees for the first three years.
• Once the company starts selling a product, NASA will collect a standard net royalty fee. This money goes first to the inventor and then to maintaining the agency's technology transfer activities and technology advancement.
• This announcement applies only to non-exclusive licenses, which means other companies may apply for similar rights to use the technology for commercial purposes. However, NASA will consider further exclusivity if the start-up wishes to negotiate.
• Companies entering into these licenses are bound by all requirements in federal licensing statutes and NASA policies, including development of a commercialization plan and reporting on efforts to achieve practical application.

Release 15-200 NASA Challenge Seeks Ways to Use Mars’ Natural Resources for Astronauts

Living off the land is different when the land is 140 million miles away, so NASA is looking for innovative ideas to use in situ (in place) Martian resources to help establish a human presence on the Red Planet.

The In Situ Resource Utilization Challenge offers the public an opportunity to submit designs for structures on Mars that would use existing material. The agency plans to award $10,000 to the first-place winner, with $2,500 each for two second-place submissions.

NASA’s Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan announced the challenge at an event Wednesday honoring the five-year anniversary of the government-wide platform Challenge.gov.

“NASA’s newest challenge is yet another stellar example of the agency’s commitment to harnessing the ingenuity of citizens as we seek to expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability and opportunity in space. Exploring Mars and other worlds is a herculean endeavor. Like other agencies across the federal government, NASA recognizes that our success will be enhanced greatly by involving people with all kinds of knowledge, skill sets and ideas in our work,” said Stofan.

One advantage of using resources from the planet instead of bringing everything from Earth is the potential to save the agency more than $100,000 per 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of cargo each launch.

The challenge is run by NineSigma Inc. as part of the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL). The NTL works across NASA and the federal government to provide crowd-based challenges as a way to solve difficult problems and get work done. It’s being conducted in collaboration with Swamp Works, a lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida dedicated to finding creative solutions for the problems that come with deep space exploration, including the journey to Mars.

“In situ resource utilization is key to our exploration of the universe,” said Robert Mueller, senior technologist at Swamp Works. “We must find ways to make what we need once we are at our destination. For example, the soil on Mars could be used to make modular structural building blocks to make shelters, landing pads and other useful structures. We are looking for creative and novel solutions from all types of people.”

NASA Ames Fire Department Aircraft Firefighting To Conduct Training

The fire department of NASA’s Ames Research Center will be performing proficiency training at Moffett Federal Airfield on Oct. 8, 10 and 12, 2015. The training will involve the use of a propane-fueled, aircraft fire-fighting trainer.

Since the aircraft trainer is fueled by propane, very little smoke should be produced during the fires; however, flames from the live-fire training may be visible to drivers on U.S. Highway 101. Ames community residents should also be aware that they may hear sirens during the training sessions.

The aircraft trainer will provide the department with an opportunity to practice its response to a wide variety of realistic aircraft fire-fighting situations. The trainer is capable of simulating fires that include flaming-liquid spills, engine fires, interior cabin fires, wheel-brake fires and fires in aircraft auxiliary power units.

Additionally, mutual-aid fire departments from around Santa Clara County have been invited to participate in these training sessions to increase readiness for potential aircraft incidents. Release M15-150 NASA to Announce Selections for Small Satellite Launch Contract

NASA will host a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to announce the outcome of the Venture Class Launch Service (VCLS) competition. The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

The participants are:

• Garrett Skrobot, Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) mission lead for the Launch Services Program (LSP) at Kennedy
• Eric Ianson, associate director of NASA’s Earth Sciences Division in the Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington
• Mark Wiese, flight projects office chief, NASA Launch Services Program, Kennedy Space Center
• Representatives from the selected launch service providers

The event will include a question-and-answer session with media. Media may participate in the briefing by calling the Kennedy news center at 321-867-2468 within 15 minutes prior to the start of the news conference to obtain a passcode for voice access. Social media also may ask questions using #askNASA.

The vehicles expected to meet the VCLS requirement represent an emerging class of commercial launch services for small satellites -- often called CubeSats or nanosatellites -- and science missions that are currently limited to ride-share arrangements, flying only when space is available on NASA and other launches.

This new class of launch services is intended to help open the door for future dedicated opportunities for CubeSat launches and science missions, so that a single rocket would be able to send dozens of the tiny spacecraft into orbit at once and on paths that best suit their scientific goals. The services acquired through such a contract will constitute the smallest class of launch services used by NASA.

In addition to the benefit of having a dedicated launch capability, this contract will save NASA the costs of developing a launch vehicle of its own for this purpose, instead paying for the launches as a service. The boosters will be developed by the commercial provider, with rocket costs supported by a wide market of users, also enabling the agency to enjoy cost savings.

VCLS is an element of a strategic initiative led by LSP and focused on assuring long-term launch services availability while also promoting the continued evolution of the U.S. commercial space launch market.

LSP supports the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by providing innovators at non-profits and educational institutions an accessible way to participate in space exploration. More than 50 CubeSats currently are awaiting launch over the next three years. NASA’s Earth Sciences Division anticipates future recurring science missions requiring LSP support and use of a dedicated capability for launching smaller payloads into orbit.

Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities. They also allow educators an inexpensive means to engage students in all phases of satellite development, operation and exploitation through real-world, hands-on research and development experience on NASA-funded rideshare launch opportunities.