NIAC 2026 Selections

Source: This report is based on an official public release from NASA. PULSE organizes and summarizes public government communications. Read the original release →

SaptarshiBandyopadhyayDimming the Sun Using Controllable Dust Cloud to Reduce Solar InsolationNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

David BugbyCombinatory Architecture offering Neomobility, on-Venus Adaptability, and SurvivabilityNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

AnishDamodaranPS21: Transforming Submillimeter Space Interferometry with Photonic TechnologiesUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando, FL 32826-29332026 Phase I

ArturDavoyanCoilable Stacked Solar Sails for Very High delta-V MissionsUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase I

A.C. CharaniaEARENDIL: Extended Astronaut Radioisotope-EVA in Nighttime and Deep-space Icy LandscapesZeno Power Systems, Inc. Washington, DC 20001-37012026 Phase I

DanielDrewSolid-state Propulsion for Autonomous Reconnaissance of KarstUniversity of HawaiiHonolulu, HI 96822-23032026 Phase I

Gilly ElorPower-over-Fiber to Enable a Lunar Underground eXplorerStone Aerospace, Inc.Del Valle, TX 78617-30172026 Phase I

ZhaoyanLiuQuantum Wind Lidar Applications for Planetary and Earth Science MissionsNASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, CA 94034-00012026 Phase I

JeffNosanovOBLIVIAN: Observing Black hole LIght Via Intensity cOrrelatioNOrbital Velocity, LLCDecatur, GA 30033-41512026 Phase I

KeunhanParkPlasmon-Enhanced Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic Power Generation for Interstellar MissionsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake City 84112-11092026 Phase I

AustinPhoenixECLIPSE – Efficient variable Conductivity Lunar Insulator for Passive Surveyor Environmental ControlVirginia Polytechnic Institute & StateUniversity, Blacksburg, VA 24060-56052026 Phase I

MarcoQuadrelliPRAXIS: Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ SamplingNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

MichaelRubensteinActively Steerable Femtosat Constellations for In-situ Exploration of Saturn’s Rings, Atmosphere, and MagnetosphereNorthwestern UniversityChicago Evanston, IL 60208-00012026 Phase I

BenjaminSchaferPhotophoretic Tracers for Near-Space Remote Sensing at 30-100 km AltitudesUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase I

DavidSmithRobotically Assembled Electromagnetic Metamaterials for Long-Range Space Situational AwarenessDuke UniversityDurham, NC 27708-99762026 Phase I

PabloSobronInterworld Slingshot Resource SurveysSETI InstituteMountain View, CA 94043-52032026 Phase I

PaulStankusMapping Alien Continents: Achieving Optical VLBI for Exoplanet ImagingBrookhaven Science AssociatesUpton NY 11973-00012026 Phase I

PaulStankusPrecision Astrometry Using Optically Independent Spacecraft for Graviational Wave DetectionBrookhaven Science AssociatesUpton, NY 11973-00012026 Phase I

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