'Next-Generation Science': NASA Is Exploring Quantum Tech For Climate Data, Advance 3D Printing For Use In Space

NASA is launching two Space Technology Research Institutes to develop critical technology in engineering and climate research. Each institute will receive up to $15 mn in funding over five years.

Argentina's Perito Moreno Glacier seen from International Space Station. NASA has said its Space Technology Research Institute will specialise in advancing quantum sensing technology for improved mass change measurements from orbit that will help scientists understand the movement of ice and water on Earth’s surface.

Source : NASA

NASA is pushing forward with its long-term exploration goals with the help of two newly created Space Technology Research Institutes (STRIs), the agency said Thursday as it announced the plan to leverage teams led by US universities to develop critical technology in engineering and climate research. The STRIs will bring together experts from various fields to advance aerospace capabilities through investments in early-stage technology, it said.

One of the institutes will work on quantum sensing technology to support climate research, while the other will focus on improving the understanding and rapid certification of metal parts created by using advanced manufacturing techniques, the agency said. 

Jim Reuter, NASA's associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate, expressed his excitement in drawing on the expertise of these multi-university teams to create technology for pressing needs. "Their work will enable next-generation science for studying our home planet and broaden the use of 3D-printed metal parts for spaceflight with state-of-the-art modelling," he was quoted as saying.

The STRIs will have a five-year programme, and each institute will receive up to $15 million in funding over the five years. The goal of the institutes is to enhance future aerospace capabilities by investing in early-stage technology and leveraging the expertise of multiple disciplines from universities, industry, and non-profit organisations. This approach involves collaboration between science, engineering, and other fields to achieve significant advancements in the aerospace industry.

With the establishment of the STRIs, the space agency is confident that it can advance its long-term exploration goals and better study Planet Earth.

We’re announcing two new research institutes that will develop quantum technology to process complex climate data & create new computer models for 3D printed parts to be used in space. Cutting-edge technology is critical to our mission success: https://t.co/Mu8iv7e8OM pic.twitter.com/NyMiI0cBZm

— NASA (@NASA) March 16, 2023

The Institutes

The Quantum Pathways Institute, led by the University of Texas at Austin, is dedicated to advancing quantum sensing technology for Earth science applications, NASA said. Quantum sensors, which utilise quantum physics principles, have the potential to provide more accurate data and enable new scientific measurements, it explained, adding that the technology could be especially beneficial for space missions involving satellites that collect mass change data, offering new insights into the effects of climate change on the planet. 

The institute aims to further develop the underlying physics of quantum sensors, design them for space missions, and explore how mission design and systems engineering can accommodate this new technology, according to the agency. The University of Colorado Boulder, University of California, Santa Barbara, California Institute of Technology, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are among the institute's partners.

Meanwhile, Carnegie Mellon University and Johns Hopkins University are leading the Institute for Model-based Qualification & Certification of Additive Manufacturing (IMQCAM), which aims to improve computer models of 3D-printed metal parts for use in spaceflight applications. 

The institute will develop detailed computer models, known as digital twins, to predict the properties of 3D-printed parts made from spaceflight materials, NASA said, adding that these models will help engineers to understand the parts' capabilities and limitations, such as how much stress they can withstand before breaking. Additional partners on the institute include Vanderbilt University, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Virginia, Case Western Reserve University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute, and Pratt & Whitney.