Sep 3 2010
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 10-258
STATEMENT BY THE NASA ADMINISTRATOR ON THE CHILEAN MINERS RESCUE
WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the rescue effort for the Chilean miners. "On behalf of the entire NASA family, I want to ask that our heartfelt thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the courageous miners, their families and friends, and the dedicated people who have been working to safely reach those who are still trapped underground. "There is a lot of hard work ahead for rescuers, but the Chilean government and the people of that great nation should be praised for their steadfast determination. Their unwavering commitment is the reason we are witness to the joyful and emotional reunions today as the miners are returned to the surface one-by-one. "I also want to express my personal thanks to the Americans who have assisted in this heroic effort, and specifically the NASA team that traveled to Chile in the early days of the crisis. For decades, the people of this agency have learned to live, work, and survive in the hostile environment of space. Our expertise in maintaining physiological and psychological health, and our technical and engineering experience in spacecraft design all proved to be valuable in a situation that is far from our traditional scope of work. "I am proud of the people of this agency who were able to bring the experience of spaceflight down to Earth when it was needed most. As the drama of this recue continues to unfold before us, we pray for the safe return of each and every miner.
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RELEASE: 10-265
NASA SELECTS 215 SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS
WASHINGTON -- NASA selected 215 proposals for negotiation of Phase II contract awards in the Small Business Innovation Research program, or SBIR. The selected projects have a total value of approximately $129 million. NASA will award the contracts to 162 small high technology firms in 35 states. The SBIR program works with NASA's mission directorates to competitively select ventures that address research and technology needs for agency programs and projects. "Investing in small businesses innovations designed to meet our future mission needs is paramount for NASA's continued success, said Bobby Braun, NASA chief technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "These awards will help small businesses across the country continue to employ and develop the high-tech workforce America needs for the future, while providing new knowledge and capabilities to NASA. Innovative research areas among the selected proposals include: -- A sensor system for the detection and monitoring of clear air turbulence to help increase aviation safety -- A process technology for converting carbon dioxide and methane for power co-generation and oxygen production -- Large-format focal plane detectors capable of detecting ultraviolet to infrared radiation for use in future telescopes and NASA space missions -- A software defined radio which supports reconfiguration, flexibility and increased performance and bandwidth that could be used for communications on the surface of Mars or the moon. The SBIR program is designed to address specific technology gaps in NASA missions while complementing other agency research investments. Program results have benefited numerous NASA efforts, including modern air traffic control systems, Earth observing spacecraft, the space shuttle and International Space Station, and the Mars rovers. The highly competitive SBIR program is a three-phase award system. It provides qualified small businesses with opportunities to propose unique ideas that meet specific research and development needs of the federal government. Phase I is a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an idea. Awards are for as long as six months, in amounts up to $100,000. Phase II expands on the results of the developments in Phase I, providing awards for as long as two years in amounts up to $600,000. Phase III is for the commercialization of the results of Phase II and requires the use of private sector or non-SBIR federal funding. Participants submitted 340 Phase II proposals. The criteria used to select the winning proposals included technical merit and innovation, Phase 1 results, value to NASA, commercial potential and company capabilities. NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SBIR program for the agency's Office of the Chief Technologist. NASA collaborates with U.S. industry to develop pioneering technologies, infuse them into agency missions and transition them into commercially available products and services. NASA's 10 field centers manage individual projects. For a complete list of selected companies, visit: http://sbir.nasa.gov
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RELEASE: 10-177
NASA SEEKS UNDERGRADS TO DEFY GRAVITY FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
HOUSTON -- NASA is offering undergraduate students an opportunity to test an experiment in weightless science as part of the agency's Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program. Proposals are due by Oct. 27 The program, managed by the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, provides aspiring explorers a chance to propose, design and fabricate a reduced gravity experiment. Selected teams will get to test and evaluate their experiment aboard a microgravity aircraft. The specially modified jet aircraft flies approximately 30 roller-coaster-like climbs and dips to produce periods of micro and hyper-gravity, ranging from weightlessness to three times the force of Earth's gravity. "This project gives students a head start in preparing for future ventures by allowing them to do hands-on research and engineering in a truly reduced gravity laboratory, Program Manager Douglas Goforth said. Interested teams also should submit a letter of intent by Sept. 22. This step is optional, but serves as an introductory notice that a team plans to submit a proposal for the competition. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Full-time students must be at least 18 years old. NASA will announce the selected participants on Dec. 8. The actual flights will take place in summer 2011. Selected teams may invite a full-time, accredited journalist to fly with them and document the experiment and gravity-defying experience. With this program, NASA continues its tradition of investing in the nation's education programs with the goal of strengthening the future workforce. To learn more about NASA's education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education
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