Straight Out of Sci-Fi: NASA Advances Six Pioneering Space Technologies for Tomorrow

NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program is advancing six “‘science fiction-like” space technology projects, including a lunar railway and a fluid telescope.

Six visionary concept studies have been selected by NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program for additional funding and development. Each study has already completed the initial NIAC phase, showing their futuristic ideas — like a lunar railway system and fluid-based telescopes — may provide fresh perspectives and approaches as NASA explores the unknown in space.

The NIAC Phase II conceptual studies will receive up to $600,000 to continue working over the next two years to address key remaining technical and budget hurdles and pave their development path forward. When Phase II is complete, these studies could advance to the final NIAC phase, earning additional funding and development consideration toward becoming a future aerospace mission.