NASA picks STTR projects

NASA picked 23 proposals from small business and research institution teams to continue the development of innovative technologies that will support future agency missions and may prove viable as commercial products and services. The Phase II selectees in NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program are permitted to enter negotiations for possible contract awards, worth a combined total of approximately $17.2 million. Two proposals involve technology being administered by the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss. Both projects focus on innovative means to harvest energy from various forms of "waste" energy and convert it into a different new usable form of energy. A third proposal originated with Stennis Space Center but now is being administered by Kennedy Space Center, Fla. But SSC will still benefit from its development of ultra-high temperature refractory materials that can be used on test stand flame trenches and other components. (Source: NASA, 09/08/14)