Small Companies Win Big in NASA’s TechLeap Challenge
NASA announced 10 winning teams for its latest Techleap price – Space Technology Payload Challenge – June 26. The winners came out of a record field of more than 200 candidates to earn cash prices of a value of up to $ 500,000, if they have a flight unit. Recipients can also have the possibility of testing their technologies in flight.
The NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Division (BPS) supports the emerging space economy through challenges like Techleap. Projects receive funding thanks to the Space Science (CERISS) commercial initiative, which combines government research objectives with commercial innovation.
The capacities of two laureates specifically approach the BPS research priorities, which include the carrying out of surveys that shed light on future space cultures and advance precision health.
Ambrosia Space Manufacturing Corporation develops a centrifuge system to separate nutrients from cell cultures – potentially creating a transformation of space food which could transform algae into digestible meals for astronauts.
Helogen Corporation builds an automated laboratory system which can perform biological experiences without requiring an implication of astronauts and can be able to transmit data in real time to researchers on earth without having to wait for physical samples to return.
“The innovations of these small companies could allow NASA to accelerate the pace of critical research,” explains Dan Walsh, director of the BPS program for Ceriss. “It is also an example of NASA allowing the emerging space industry to grow and prosper beyond large companies.”
Each thumb and ounce relies on a spacecraft, which means that the winning teams must think small while solving big problems.
Commercial companies play a central role in activating space research – they provide new approaches to continuous challenges. But space missions require another type of innovation, and Techleap teams are faced with time and size constraints for their experiences.
The winners have six to nine months to demonstrate that their concepts work. It is an important contrast to the traditional development of spatial technology, which can extend for years.
Research also serves a wider goal. Technology helps NASA “knowing before leaving” on longer missions and deep space on the Moon and Mars. Understanding how technologies behave in microgravity or extreme environments can prevent expensive failures when astronauts are far from the earth.
Small investments in concept proof technologies can bring a high return on investment. With the techleap price, BPS bets that big ideas will come in small packages.
Techleap price – Space Technology Payload Challenge (STPC)
Winner of the challenge of the payload of spatial technology
Space Science Initiative for the rapidly compatible space in trade
