Nevada NASA EPSCoR_ RID

The State of Nevada is the most arid and one of the most sparsely populated states within the United States. As such, it contains ideal locations that meet the multiple research needs within each of NASA’s mission directorates. The Nevada National Secuirty Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site) was a training site for the Apollo Astronauts. The State of Nevada (NV) and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) have been engaged in strategic planning to advance science and technology based research and economic development within the state. The State of NV successfully competed for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site that is providing opportunities for NSHE research collaborations with NASA Centers (Ames and Armstrong) and high-tech businesses. Another effort sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development recently initiated a “Knowledge Fund” grant process to help sponsor collaborations among NSHE research institutions and science/technology based industry in NV. The most recent Nevada NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development (RID) activities have led to the teaming of researchers in the areas of aerosol research, robotics and vision research, earth systems sciences research in the Great Basin, planetary surface processes, and designs for SAFE testing facilities for nuclear thermal rockets. As NSHE plans for the future, the System Sponsored Programs and EPSCoR Office continues to provide resources to NSHE faculty and administration to help identify additional strengths and new opportunities to build competitive research programs within NASA relevant STEM fields. This proposal provides opportunities to enhance Nevada’s research infrastructure that will result in sustainable research programs relevant to both NASA and the State’s interests.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.