Integrated System Assessment and Validation Portfolio (ISAV)

The agency has long identified that exploration and development of the solar system will require the development and maturation of precision landing and hazard avoidance technologies that are applicable to several destinations and missions.  These robotic and human missions are projected to target small landing zones, as small as two adjacent football fields, that will have uncertain landing hazards contained within.  Technologies that reduce the system mass or improve performance for landing, such as thermal protection systems, parachutes, or propulsion systems, are also required.   These technologies will enable a variety of missions, whether it be scientific exploration or landing near prepared assets in support of space infrastructure development.  The evaluation of these technologies requires a combination of simulation, field testing, flight testing, and analysis.The Integrated System Assessment and Validation (ISAV) portfolio project is responsible for coordination, management,  execution, and oversight of simulation, field/flight test, and analysis activities relevant to Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) and the integral role GNC serves within Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) systems.  This effort is primarily aligned with the Guidance and Navigation Systems (GNS) Capability of STMD as it provides integrated system performance assessments for a wide variety of different EDL missions and allows rapid evaluation and trades between different proposed technologies.  Future content within this portfolio project will focus on the ongoing development of EDL GNC technologies and their application to concept mission architectures, as well as relevant validation and testing of EDL GNC algorithms, sensor or effectors that can benefit EDL missions and related applications.

Over the years, various disparate technology analysis efforts have arisen in an ad-hoc sense across projects and testing environments.  ISAV consolidates these efforts across multiple projects and Capabilities on the performance and evaluation of multiple technologies such as algorithms, sensors, decelerators, propulsion, and landing systems.  It will identify and help execute field testing and simulation activities that assist LAND projects in meeting objectives and minimize where possible the duplication of effort. ​The simulation and analysis activities will provide a common testing environment to assist in formulation of requirements and mature the TRL of various algorithms.  It will help identify field and flight testing opportunities of relevance.  This project will also assist STMD and partner with other organizations in conceptual studies which end up informing technology development roadmaps, proposed flight tests, and potential architectures.  This close working relationship with other LAND capabilities and projects encourages the identification, evaluation, and maturation of various EDL technologies with more effective use of program resources.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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.