NASA Selects 18 University Proposals for Steckler Space Grants
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HOUSTON -- NASA has chosen 18 proposals from universities around the
country to receive up to $70,000 for Phase One of the NASA Ralph
Steckler Space Grant Colonization Research and Technology Development
Opportunity.
Grant money will support university research and technology
development activities that support a sustained human presence in
space, increase understanding of the moon's environment and develop
basic infrastructure for future space colonies.
"I'm excited that many of the awards will provide a dual benefit to
exploration and to Earth conservation by focusing on important issues
such as water recycling, food production and power storage," said
Frank Prochaska, manager of the Steckler Space Grant Project at
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA selected two proposals from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.,
and the University of Arizona in Tucson and one proposal from each of
the following academic institutions:
Desert Research Institute in Reno
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge
Montana State University in Bozeman
New Mexico State University in Las Cruces
Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland
Old Dominion University Research Foundation in Norfolk, Va.
Pennsylvania State University in University Park
Texas Tech University System in Lubbock
University of California in San Diego
University of Central Florida in Orlando
University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn.
University of Idaho in Moscow
University of North Texas in Denton
University of Wisconsin in Green Bay
The projects selected to receive Steckler Space Grants will be
implemented through three funding and development phases. Phase One
will last nine months with a maximum award up to $70,000. The purpose
of Phase One is to establish the scientific and technical merit and
feasibility of a proposed innovation, research, or technology
development effort that could enable space colonization or
settlement. Primary exploration elements include habitation, rovers,
surface power, communications and extravehicular activity systems.
Phase Two, which lasts two years, will provide a maximum of $250,000
each to four of the most promising Phase One projects through a
competitive selection based on scientific and technical merit. The
purpose of Phase Two is to begin conducting the research and
technology development effort. Two awards of up to $275,000 each will
be given for the third phase, also two years, during which time the
Phase Two efforts will be integrated with NASA programs or projects.
NASA received 35 proposals. The agency released the cooperative
agreement notice inviting lead institutions of the National Space
Grant College and Fellowship Program to submit proposals for these
grants in November 2008. The Space Grant national network includes
more than 850 affiliates from universities, colleges, industry,
museums, science centers, and state and local agencies supporting and
enhancing science and engineering education, research and public
outreach efforts for NASA's aeronautics and space projects. These
affiliates belong to one of 52 consortia in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Ralph Steckler was an assistant film director and photographer from
southern California who had a lifelong interest in space
colonization. He left part of his estate to NASA for the colonization
of space and the betterment of mankind. Those funds are now providing
universities with NASA research opportunities based on his vision.
With this program and NASA's other college and university programs,
the agency continues its tradition of investing in the nation's
education programs with the goal of developing science, technology,
engineering and math skills and capabilities critical to achieving
the nations' exploration goals.
For more information about NASA's education programs visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
