NASA just invested in 10 new visionary space technologies

Revolutionary space technology that'll take us into the future.

August 21, 2019

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program invests in new space technology concepts every year.
This year’s technologies range from smart space suits to Venus aircraft.
These concepts will be put to the test to see if they are viable.

Nuclear propulsion and lunar mining conjure up wild visions of a new space age. Our best minds are currently working on making these speculative space inventions a reality. Those are just two of the technologies that NASA has selected to research and invest in as part of their NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program for 2019.

The program is funding a total of 18 studies of which they’ll determine the feasibility of early-stage technologies that could contribute greatly to the advancement of space exploration.

From space debris cleanup to interstellar fly-bys, the technologies have the potential to usher in great innovative feats in outer space.

Here is a selection of 10 of the most exciting new NASA space tech investments.

Why NASA should go all-in on nuclear propulsion

"Think of it like a transcontinental railroad — not the fastest way to move a lot of mass, but certainly the most efficient,” Jared Isaacman said about nuclear electric propulsion.

by Ross Pomeroy