NASA to Spur Space Technology Development

NASA is redoubling efforts to position itself at the vanguard of space technology, with plans for ambitious new projects to spur innovative ideas from industry, academia and even ordinary citizens.

The U.S. space agency's nascent Space Technology Program, born as part of President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget request, is currently pending congressional approval. If it passes muster, the program could represent a significant push toward greater external collaboration and technological development for NASA.

"It's different from anything NASA has done before," said Robert Braun, NASA's chief technologist, in a Tuesday presentation to representatives from industry, academia and the federal government. "This is a competition of ideas. This is a meritocracy. We want to reposition NASA at the cutting edge."

Braun discussed the Space Technology Program here at NASA's Space Technology Industry Forum, hosted by the agency's Office of the Chief Technologist.  

The OCT, which was established in February, is responsible for direct management of NASA's space technology programs, and for coordinating and tracking all technology investments across the agency.…