Dr. Mason Peck

Space Technology Policy:

Exploring Options

Senate Science and Technology Caucus January 28, 2012

Technology: Stepping Stones to the Future

• NASA technology development addresses National priorities – Directs NASA to work with industry, academia

and international partners to implement new space technology development

– Encourages growth of U.S. commercial space sector

– Maintain a space technology base that aligns mission directorate investments, increases capability, lowers mission cost and supports long term needs

– Directs aggressive and prioritized technology investments to supports robotic and human exploration missions 2

“Half or more of the growth in the nation’s gross domestic product in recent decades has been attributable to progress in technological innovation” - NRC, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited

Raise the economic impact and public benefit of NASA’s technologies by increasing the rate, volume, and quality of the technologies it transfers to industry, academia, and other Government agencies.

NASA Technology Transfer Aims to:

NASA Technology Transfer Benefits Life on Earth

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•Each year since 1976, Spinoff magazine highlights 40-50 NASA technology transfer successes from the prior year.

•Nearly 1,700 Spinoff stories are available online in a searchable format at: http://www.sti.nasa.gov/spinoff/database

• National media continues to focus on commercialization benefits of NASA technologies. OCT has initiated a new weekly web series entity entitled “Space Tech Improving our Lives” at: http://www.nasa.gov/oct

• We can, and will, do more.

Backup

Office of the Chief Technologist

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Office of the Chief Technologist

Integrates Technology Investment Across the Agency

Demonstrates and Communicates Societal Impacts of NASA Technology Investments

Leads Tech Transfer, Partnerships and Commercialization Activities

Across the Agency

Serves as Advisor to Administration

Direct Technology Management and Budget Authority for the Space Technology Program

Advocates Externally NASA’s R&D Programs

NASA’s Space Technology Portfolio Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan (SSTIP)

• 140 challenges (10 per roadmap) • 320 technologies • 20 year horizon

• Revised every 4 years

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Prioritization: • 100 top technical challenges • 83 high priority technologies

(roadmap-specific) • 16 highest of high

technologies (looking across all roadmaps)

• Requested every 4 years

Investment Portfolio • Technology Developments

(across full TRL spectrum) • Flight Demonstrations • Must accommodate: - Mission Needs - Push Opportunities - Affordability - Technical Progress - Programmatic Performance - Commitments

• Budgeted annually

Updated ST Roadmaps: • Incorporate NRC Study Results

Developing a Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan: • current investments • current MD/Office priorities • opportunities for partnership • gaps vs. current budget and

capabilities • 20 Year horizon with 4 year

implementation cadence

• Revised every 2 years

Space Tech Roadmaps NRC Study

Execution

SSTIP

2010 2011 2013

References

Space Technology Roadmaps: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (National Research Council Report review of Space Technology Roadmaps): http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13354

A thriving social media presence with

an audience over 25,000 strong

http://spinoff.nasa.gov

An online partnering tool to facilitate

technology transfer

An extensive collection of flyers and brochures for

download

Interactive features, games, and learning tools for the classroom

A searchable database of every Spinoff article since 1976

An archive of every Spinoff issue since 1976 in HTML and downloadable PDF formats

Also: Technology

transfer papers and presentations

Spinoff PSAs,

award-winning spinoffs, and more

NASA Spinoff Online Outreach