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Technology topic
Space (SP)
The Space topic seeks revolutionary technologies to be deployed outside Earth’s atmosphere to enhance the commercial use of space. Technologies could include innovations that provide cheaper, safer, and more frequent products and solutions for commercial space customers. This topic particularly seeks to support growth-oriented small businesses who have not previously received significant SBIR/STTR funding and are seeking to contribute to economic growth by developing innovative technologies to support the overall emerging space economy.
Proposals should address real capability gaps or enabling technologies for the space industry, anchored with a solid understanding of the challenges of working in space including launch, mass and volume restrictions, the radiation and thermal environment, communications and latency, power, and energy. NSF encourages proposals with revolutionary satellite and vehicle hardware or systems innovations involving propulsion systems, navigation systems, energy collection and power generation systems unique to space environments, andin-space manufacturing systems and services. Proposals focused on Earth imaging and sensing; planetary (other than Earth) physical surveying, mapping, and prospecting services; extraction and processes of water and volatiles (not on Earth); search for extraterrestrial intelligence; space tourism; space weather; interplanetary habitats; and analytic algorithms based on data collected extensively from space-based systems, either alone or in combination with terrestrial systems, are also encouraged.
Sub-Topics
SP1. Extra-terrestrial Resource Extraction
SP2. Geological and Geoclimatic Science Data Technologies
SP3. Ground Launch Sites and Satellite Operations Technologies
SP4. In-space Manufacturing Technologies
SP5. Navigation and Positioning Technologies
SP6. On-Orbit Technologies
SP7. Remote Sensing Technologies
SP8. Spacecraft Development and Manufacturing
SP9. Space Technologies and Systems
SP10. Space Transportation and Access
SP11. Telecommunications Technologies
SP12. Other Space-related Technologies
Application process for Space (SP) funding
Eligibility for Space (SP) funding +
- Your company must be a small business (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States.
- At least 50% of your company’s equity must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. NSF does not fund companies that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, or hedge funds, to participate in SBIR and STTR.
- All funded work, including work done by consultants and contractors, needs to take place in the United States.
- The project’s principal investigator (tech lead) must be legally employed at least 20 hours a week by the company seeking funding. The principal investigator doesn’t need any advanced degrees.
- The principal investigator needs to commit to at least one month (173 hours) of work on a funded project per six months of project duration.
Evaluation Criteria: What We Look for When Evaluating Space (SP) proposals +
- Technological Innovation
- Broader Impacts
- Commercial Potential
- Read more about our criteria
Take our project assessment to see if your work might be a good fit for NSF funding.