Keith’s note: Today these three Technology Transfer Opportunities were posted on NASA’s procurement page by NASA LaRC media specialist Sean Sullivan. – NASA Technology Transfer Opportunity: Facile Synthesis of Supported Nanocatalysts with Metal Oxide Nanoparticles – NASA Technology Transfer Opportunity: Autonomous Slat Cove Filler Device Reduction of Aeroacoustic Noise – NASA Technology Transfer Opportunity: A New Method for Develping Boron Nitirde Nanotubes with Superior Morphology As I noted last week, […]

Keith’s 22 Feb note: NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has their “Future Innovation” website online (screen shot in case they change things). Curiously, it has this odd copyright notice on it. ” Copyright Future Innovation 2012. All Rights Reserved.” How can a NASA.gov website be the copyright protected property of anyone/anything other than the Federal government? Indeed, by default, virtually everything NASA does is in the public domain. This website […]

National Research Council Report Identifies and Prioritizes Key Technologies for NASA “In 2010 NASA created 14 draft technology roadmaps to help guide and prepare for the agency’s future space exploration and mission needs. Using these draft roadmaps as a point of departure, a new National Research Council report, NASA SPACE TECHNOLOGY ROADMAPS AND PRIORITIES: RESTORING NASA’S TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE AND PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW ERA IN SPACE, identifies and […]

Keith’s note: Last night I subscribed to NASA Tech Briefs magazine. Within a few minutes I got 5 spam emails asking me if I wanted to subscribe to NASA Tech Briefs magazine – which is what I just did. This publication has always perplexed me since NASA pays little or no attention to it. The NASA Office of the Chief Technologist web page makes no mention of this magazine – […]

NASA Administrator Names Peck Agency’s Chief Technologist “NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has named Cornell University Professor Mason Peck to be the agency’s chief technologist, effective in January. Peck will serve as the agency’s principal advisor and advocate on matters concerning technology policy and programs. As the chief advocate, Peck will help communicate how NASA technologies benefit space missions and the day-to-day lives of Americans. The office coordinates, tracks and integrates […]

Keith’s Note: NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun will be leaving NASA soon. He has told his staff and others that he plans to depart. Braun fought hard to bring new technology into the way that NASA does things but was thwarted by the lack of a meaningful budget with which to accomplish this task. He worked very hard at his job – and at trying to make this transformation at […]

Space Transportation Technology Roadmap “This roadmap is broadly inclusive in capturing the multitude of U.S. national security, civil, and industry-commercial interests in space transportation that exist today. Still, it is useful to discuss its national security military origins. Roadmap development was most recently sparked by a validated military need for space transportation, namely the Marine Corps Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion (SUSTAIN) capability. Although SUSTAIN represents a mere niche […]

Evaluating NASA Technology Road Maps – Public Workshop Series “A National Research Council steering committee and six panels that are advising NASA on innovative technologies for future missions is holding a series of public workshops to review 14 draft NASA technology “road maps” and solicit input from the public, the aerospace community, and policymakers. The study will provide recommendations to NASA to help chart a course for technologies and concepts […]

Q&A: NASA Tech Chief on ‘Sputnik’ Moments and Innovation, space.com “SPACE.com: What is NASA doing today to move technology along in this country? Braun: We are currently holding meetings with the National Research Council that are open to the public to discuss innovative technological ideas and insights that could influence the future of space exploration. We need help with prioritizing which technology NASA should pursue on a limited budget. We […]

Keith’s note: This Tweet by @NASA_Technology (NASA office of Chief Technologist) just appeared: “The NRC kicks off review of NASA’s space tech roadmaps. Media Advisory: Future Tech for NASA Missions – Mtg Jan. 26 & 28 http://goo.gl/c2HaW“ Wow. Who knew. No mention was made by NASA until today that this event is happening – and the event is starting tomorrow. You have to wonder why these folks in Bobby Braun’s […]