Every year , NASA releases some exciting construct for future infinite geographic expedition that it has select for further study . And this year we ’re treated to a wide array of concepts for interplanetary and interstellar mission .
The program is calledNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts(NIAC ) . multitude can propose mind for future missions to NASA , and if they ’re picked in Phase I they will get about $ 125,000 for nine month of study . Those then pick for Phase II study get up to £ 500,000 for two - yr study .
“ The syllabus gives fellows the opportunity and funding to explore visionary aerospace concepts that we valuate and potentially fold into our other stage technology portfolio , ” said Steve Jurczyk , associate executive of NASA ’s Space Technology Mission Directorate , in astatement .
There are 22 proposals in total ( 15 for Phase I and seven for Phase II ) , so we wo n’t run through them all here . But there are a few in particular that caught our centre . The full lean of marriage proposal ishere .
One Phase I award is aPluto landerthat would use the nanus major planet ’s thin but wide atmosphere to reach the surface , and then “ hop ” across the earth . develop by Benjamin Goldman of the Global Aerospace Corporation , the lander would take advantage of Pluto ’s small gravity ( about one - twelfth of our planet ’s ) to jump several kilometers at a time , and inquire areas of interest group . It could arrive at Pluto in 10 to 15 year .
The Pluto Hop , Skip , and Jump lander . Benjamin Goldman
stick around with Pluto , there ’s a Phase II survey from Stephanie Thomas of Princeton Satellite Systems that would use aDirect Fusion Drive(DFD ) to go into a ballistic capsule into orbit around the dwarf planet . This nuclear fusion nuclear reactor , which Thomas say could “ revolutionise interplanetary locomotion ” , is currently in development at Princeton .
Its eminent thrust could purportedly give Pluto in just four years , equate to the decade it took New Horizons to get there . The probe would then remain in domain to contemplate Pluto , and also give up a lander .
Elsewhere we ’ve acquire a probe that wouldfloat abovethe surface of the Martian moon Phobos , to provide more data on it ahead of potential landings there in the future . Another proposes a novel scope to search for asteroids that could spark a “ gold boot ” in space . And there ’s an mind for an artificial gravity machine for human missions to Mars , using a “ Turbolift ” to give explorers the sensation of being on a trampoline to prevent bone and muscle loss while in space .
One of our preferent proposal would look into the possibility of using the Sun as amassive gravitative lensto icon a inhabitable exoplanet . If placed at the correct point , a telescope could see the light from a distant exoplanet bent and overstate by our Sun , and it might be possible to use it to get a detailed look . Slava Turyshev of NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) put ahead the idea .
A proposition with a alike goal from Chris Mann of Nanohmics would attempt to image exoplanets by using “ prima echoes ” . Stars can waver in vividness from nanoseconds to Clarence Day , and these fluctuations can ring off planetary bodies . This Phase II study would produce a roadmap for a demonstration of the approximation , which could supposedly see detail on exoplanets down to a continent level .
Artist ’s impression of stellar replication . Chris Mann
Another interesting melodic theme comes from Jonathan Sauder of JPL , who experience a Phase II award for hissteampunk Venus scouter . Called the Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments ( AREE ) , the rover would aim to live the intense temperature and pressure on Venus by using mostly mechanical components , rather than electronics .
“ AREE combines steampunk with place geographic expedition to enable skill measurement unattainable with today ’s space technology , ” say Sauder in his proposal .
The Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments ( AREE ) . Jonathan Sauder
To become a realness , most of these projects will need at least 10 years of development . But there is precedent for succeeder , with Jason Derleth , Program Executive for NIAC , telling IFLScience that some technology developed for NIAC has aviate in space . " The technologies are early in developing , though , and have changed a nifty plenty as they progress towards flight of steps , " he noted .
" The good case is theSPHERESexperiment on the ISS [ International Space Station ] . That experiment , by Dr David Miller of MIT , had some of his NIAC conception work up into it .
" A good example of a study that has actuate along the path to flight of steps is Dr Marco Pavone ’s " Hedgehog " rover for low sombreness environments . It is airless to quick for a commission to pick it up if there is sufficient interest . "
Whether any of these in style proposals become a reality remains to be encounter . But they put up a fairly interesting glimpse at what might be possible in the time to come .
