A Space Pharmacy and Asteroid-Pulverizing Tech Just Got NASA Funding

NASA is always looking for new ideas , and it ’s just pick out the late projects to fund under its Innovative Advanced Concepts programme . Six research teamsearnedPhase II grants to keep on developing their futurist excogitation , which admit a scheme for destruct worldly concern - threatening asteroids and a plan to let astronauts produce their own medical specialty in space .

NASA announced thefirst phase of the projectin January , with 14 recipient earning $ 175,000 grants . For Phase II , only six were selected for more funding , receiving up to $ 600,000 over a period of two years to further originate their concepts .

“ The concepts selected under NASA ’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program will help empower researchers to usher in new applied science that could revolutionise geographic expedition in the heavens and improve casual life here on Earth , ” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement .

An artist’s depiction of The Nyx Mission to Observe the Universe From Deep Space.

An artist’s depiction of The Nyx Mission to Observe the Universe From Deep Space.Illustration: Christopher Morrison

The Phase II grant recipient reflect NASA ’s interestingness in further explore Earth , protecting our major planet from incoming menace , and look after astronauts ’ health in space .

Planetary defense

Earth is basically naked against encroachment from space rock . In September 2022,NASA ’s DART delegation successfully deflected a non - threatening asteroid , more or less alter its orbit using kinetic impingement in a run of planetary defense .

That ’s one way to protect Earth , but a team from the University of California is suggest another , more violent way . Theirapproachto world defense is to powderize the incoming asteroid and trust on Earth ’s atmosphere as a buckler from the result fragments .

Their construct is to utilize an regalia of pocket-sized , hypervelocity kinetic penetrator to give out up an asteroid into little fragments , which would burn up when recruit Earth ’s atmosphere due to extreme passion and pressure . “ Phase II of this task require greatly flesh out upon the above simulation efforts , as well as an exploration of key steps on the roadmap towards an operational world defence organisation , ” NASA wrote .

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Lunar views

The better position to place a wireless telescope is on the Moon ’s far side , away from Earth ’s pesky , interfering wireless undulation . FarView is a concept for a radio observatory installed on the far side of the Moon , made up of 100,000 feeler stretched across 77 straight Swedish mile ( 200 square kilometers ) .

The scope would be made with local lunar resources , like metals present in the lunar regolith . “ For our Phase II proposal , we will advance the FarView Observatory concept through mould and experiment with a goal to answer the major issues regarding both the science performance and the manufacture process that will enable building FarView on the lunar far side , ” the squad from Lunar Resources save in astatement .

Vertical landings

This concept is about the hereafter of aircraft . A squad from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is develop most silentelectroaerodynamic thrustersthat would be used for vertical takeoff and landing place aircraft , for both passengers and cargo . One of the chief obstacles in delivering this construct has been the noise created by the electric aircraft , which is why the project get to work up a placid one .

Using their 2d form funding , the squad members desire to project , build , and aviate an aircraft move by electroaerodynamic thruster for a few minute .

Space pharmacy

During long least sandpiper in Earth orbit or in deep place , spaceman wo n’t have ready access to medicine . This futurist conception wants to empower astronauts to make their own drug using bacteria during spacefaring missions .

The Astropharmacy could help treat radiation syndrome exposure or sustain astronauts ’ bone health , two common risks of quad travel .

“ These new awards showcase the comprehensiveness of how NIAC - supported conception can exchange exploration , ” Jim Reuter , associate administrator for NASA ’s Space Technology Mission Directorate , said in a statement . “ From radical actuation systems for deep - space missions to feeler in air to exchange how we travel here on Earth , these technologies would radically flesh out our capabilities in air and space . ”

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