NASA will fund the projects from 257 small enterprises and 29 research bodies under its Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program, the agency said Wednesday.
Michael Gazarik, associate administrator for space technology at NASA, said the space agency intends for the fresh ideas to execute NASAâs missions and deliver new products and services to the technology market worldwide.
Some of those proposals are meant to develop systems for transporting humans to space, maintaining spacecraft operations and exploring deep space destinations.
NASA also intends to build new aircraft, air traffic management systems and space technologies to further Earth and solar system research.