Stargazing from a Backyard at 34.640159N92.608542W: NASA R&D should focus on 16 high-prority technologies, says study

Friday, February 10, 2012

NASA R&D should focus on 16 high-prority technologies, says study

From Fierce Government:

NASA R&D should focus on 16 high-prority technologies, says study

By Molly Bernhart Walker

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A Feb. 1 NASA-commissioned report from the National Research Council identifies 16 high-priority technologies NASA should focus on in the coming years--many of which are already underway. The report also recommends NASA pull out 10 percent of funding dedicated to current programs and appropriate it to efforts advancing early, emerging technologies.

"Success in executing future NASA space missions will depend on advanced developments that should already be underway," said the report committee chairman Raymond Colladay, president of RC Space Enterprises, in a Feb. 1 National Academy of Science statement.

The most important technologies for research and development, according to the report, include environmental control and life support systems; entry, descent and landing thermal protection systems; and extreme terrain mobility.

A total of 83--of the 295 possible technologies mentioned in NASA Space Technology Roadmap--were highlighted as "high-priority technologies" by expert panels and public comments curated by NRC. However, the steering committee behind the report constrained the number of highest-priority technologies to 16 "in the belief that in the face of probable scarce resources, focusing initially on a small number of the highest-priority technologies offers the best chance to make the greatest impact," according to the report.

All 16 of the technologies align with the technology objectives NASA has said it hopes to focus on going forward:

"Extend and sustain human activity beyond low Earth orbit;"
"Explore the evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere;" and
"Expand our understanding of the Earth and the universe in which we live."

NRC report authors recommend NASA's office of the chief technologist prioritize funding among the most promising of the 16 technologies listed by NRC.

NASA's OCT should also set milestones for the advancement of this technology and make related scientific and technical data more readily available to industry, in order to promote collaboration and shared priorities, says the report.

Colladay said that if NASA focuses on the 16 recommended technology priorities and sticks with its Space Technology Roadmap, it will have "the means to achieve its long-term goals."

For more:
- see the press release
- read the report

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Solar and lunar Eclipse Dates for 2012

May 20, 2012: Annular eclipse of the Sun This rare eclipse will be partially visible from all but eastern North America. For most western locations, the eclipse will begin between 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. PDT. In Alaska and parts of northern Canada, the eclipse will start an hour earlier and end 2 to 3 hours later (or will be interrupted by sunset). In San Francisco, for example, the eclipse will begin at 5:16 P.M. PDT, reach its maximum at 6:33 P.M., and end at 7:30 P.M., with the Sun very low on the horizon.

June 3-4, 2012: Partial eclipse of the Moon In North America, this will be fully visible only from western Alaska; Hawaiians will also have a view. The Moon will enter the penumbra at 10:47 P.M. HAST on June 3, reach a maximum at 1:03 A.M. on June 4, and then leave the penumbra at 3:20 A.M. The eclipse will be partially visible from most of central and western parts of North America; observers will be able to see both a penumbral and umbral eclipse. The Moon will enter the penumbra at 1:47 A.M. PDT on June 4 and then enter the umbra at 2:59 A.M. PDT. However, the Moon will set before completion of the eclipse. Only a penumbral eclipse will be visible from the Northeast, starting at 4:47 A.M. EDT on June 4, before the Moon sets.

November 13-14, 2012: Total eclipse of the Sun This eclipse will not be visible from North America. It will be visible only from Australia, Polynesia, the South Pacific Ocean, southern South America, and Antarctica.

November 28, 2012: Penumbral eclipse of the Moon This eclipse will be fully visible only from Alaska and western parts of Hawaii. The Moon will enter the penumbra at 3:13 A.M. AKST, reach a maximum at 5:33 A.M., and exit the penumbra at 7:53 A.M. In central and western North America, the eclipse will begin at 4:13 A.M. PST, but the Moon will set before the eclipse concludes. No eclipse will be visible from eastern North America.

NASA Interactive Night Sky Map