NASA has selected eight technology proposals for futuristic investment

To transform the future of aerospace missions, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected eight technology proposals for investment. These proposals include interplanetary habitats, using which it would be able to induce interplanetary habitats for astronauts who go on long-duration space missions. Other than this, growable habitats can also be robotically assembled in space with these proposals.

NASA said that these proposals will introduce new capabilities, while also significantly improving current approaches of building and operating aerospace systems.

The interplanetary habitat is proposed by Space Works Inc in US and is configured to induce deep sleep for astronauts that go on long-duration space missions.

As per NASA, a novel coating, christened "Solar White", has been developed by Kennedy Space Centre, which is said to be able to reflect more than 99.9% of the Sun's energy.

Another concept has been proposed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which demonstrates low-cost atmospheric satellite powered by a combination of wind and solar energy. This might make it able to stay aloft for weeks or even months at a time.

MSNW Inc in US is developing Magnetoshell Aerocapture for manned missions and planetary deep space orbiters, which will use aerodynamic drag forces that would slow a spacecraft while it lands on a planetary body.

All these projects are still in the early stages of development, and would require 10 or more years of concept maturation and technology development before they can be used on a NASA mission.

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