The NASA awards are intended to accelerate small business technological innovation for earth and space

The U.S. Space Agency has awarded six small businesses funding to develop technologies aimed at improving wildfire preparedness and lunar exploration. Developing novel ideas for NASA's ambitious goals requires collaboration with small businesses.

“NASA's small business awards allow our nation's entrepreneurs to harness their creativity and skills,' says Jenn Gustetic, director of early stage innovation and partnerships at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington.

NASA helps produce next-generation technologies for Earth and space exploration through these awards. These six awardee businesses developed their technologies through NASA Small Business Innovation Research.

The Phase II Sequential awards will be given after businesses have matured their technologies with Phase I and Phase II funding from the program. Nearly $27 million will be awarded.

The NASA FireTech program, run by NASA's Earth Science Technology Office, as well as broader NASA programs, will help address wildfires.“As the effects of climate change become more evident every day, 

NASA Headquarters' SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer executive, Kessler, expressed delight that this year's awards include two Earth science technologies that can help us better understand and act on this planet.

NASA's Artemis program is looking for robotic technologies that could extend lunar science and exploration capabilities. The technologies will also support NASA's Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative.

As another technology, NASA plans to use it as part of its Small Spacecraft Technology program, which aims to enable the expanded use of small spacecraft in support of lunar science and exploration.

As part of its Phase I and Phase II SBIR program, NASA SBIR is calling for white papers from small businesses working in key technology areas. Six firms were invited to submit full proposals based on these initial white papers.

NASA is providing Sequential funding for accelerated development of enabling technologies that address key NASA and national concerns. As part of the SBIR/STTR program, NASA looks to U.S. small businesses for innovative solutions to some of its most pressing challenges. 

With early-stage funding, business development resources, and opportunities, the agency supports these entrepreneurs as they pioneer technologies with the potential to expand both the agency's capabilities and the commercial space sector. 

The development of these capabilities and competitiveness enhances U.S. capability and competitiveness as well as supports the U.S. economy and the development of the commercial space sector.

As part of STMD, NASA's SBIR/STTR program is managed by the Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. NASA's mission directorates and centers benefit from the technologies developed through the program.