Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program supports early-stage research on transformative space technologies. It funds visionary ideas that could revolutionize space exploration, such as new propulsion systems, in-space manufacturing, or habitats. By investing in high-risk, high-reward projects, NIAC aims to develop groundbreaking concepts that may not be immediately practical but could significantly advance NASA’s mission goals in the future. Essentially, it's a launchpad for innovative ideas that could change how we explore and operate in space.