SPACE TECHNOLOGYThe Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) coordinates the Agency’s overall technology portfolio to
identify development needs and reduce duplication.In managing Space Technology investments, NASA
employs a portfolio approach that spans a range ofdiscipline areas and technology readiness levels (TRL)
from concept study to flight demonstration. By fundinga mixture of early stage conceptual studies (TRL
1-3), ground-based and laboratory testing aimed at demonstrating technical feasibility (TRL 3-5), and
relevant environment flight demonstrations (TRL 5-7), Space Technology helps NASA attain a balance
between mission-driven technology investments and the long-range, transformational technology and
capability investments that are required to meetour Nation’s far-reaching goals. By coordinating
technology programs within NASA, OCT facilitates integration of available and new technology into
operational systems that support specific human-exploration missions, science missions, and aeronautics.
OCT also engages the larger aerospace community including other Government agencies, and, where
there are mutual interests, develops partnershipsto efficiently develop breakthrough capabilities. OCT
leads NASA’s efforts in transferring and commercializing technology toa wide range of users to ensure
that the full value of these development efforts is realized.
Space Technology development takes place within NASACenters, in academia and industry, and through
partnerships with other Government agencies and international partners. NASA also participates in
national technology development initiatives such as the National Robotics Initiative to increase
opportunities for collaborative technology development. Investments include both competitively awarded
and strategically-guided activities to address long-termAgency technology priorities and technology gaps
identified within the Agency’s space technology roadmaps. This roadmapping effort, initiated in late 2010
and externally reviewed by the National Research Council (NRC), aids NASA in formulating a balanced,
cross-agency, technology investment perspective by identifying technology needs and overlaps, which
will better ensure infusion of technologies into future missions conducted by NASA, industry or other
Government users. The NRC’s final report, releasedin February 2012, provides guidance for future
competitive and guided technology investments. NASA is investing, at some level, in all 16 high priority
research technologies referenced in the report.
Investments in space technology stimulate the economy and contribute to the Nation's global
competitiveness through the creation of new products and services, new business and industries, and highquality, sustainable jobs. Those same advanced technologies developed for space exploration and the
aerospace industry also advance products and services available everyday to the public. Knowledge
provided by weather and navigational spacecraft,efficiency improvements in ground and air
transportation, supercomputers, solar- and wind-generated energy, battery and fuel cell energy storage,
the cameras found in many of today’s cell phones, improved biomedical applications including advanced
medical imaging and even more nutritious infant formula, as well as the protective gear that keeps our
military, firefighters and police safe, have all benefitted from our nation’s investments in aerospace
technology. According to the 2011 Aerospace Industries Association Year End Review, the U.S.
aerospace industry experienced its eighth consecutive year of growth and maintained the largest trade
surplus of any manufacturing industry. A technology-driven NASA will maintain the Nation's aerospace
community as a global technological leader for manyyears to come. NASA innovation also serves as an
inspiration for young people to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
education and career paths.
Reaching our future exploration objectives will require these advanced technology and innovation
commitments by NASA and the Nation. American technological leadership is vital to our national
security, our economic prosperity and our global standing. The U.S. is as strong as it is today because of
the technological investments made in earlier decades, because of the engineers, scientists and elected
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