NASA awards $106M to US small businesses for tech development

NASA has awarded $106 million to U.S.-based small businesses as part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

We awarded $106 million to U.S. small businesses for their proposals that will help us land the 1st woman & next man on the Moon in five years. From managing pilotless aircraft to solar panels that deploy like blinds, learn more about their #Moon2024 tech: https://t.co/oQaxYoXH7p pic.twitter.com/d7kVfQulNy

— NASA (@NASA) May 15, 2019

The space agency selected 142 proposals from 129 small businesses in 28 states to receive phase II contracts as part of the SBIR program to develop tech in the areas of human exploration and operations, space technology, science, and aeronautics, a press release states.

Eighteen of the 142 proposals are coming from DMV-based small businesses, check out the full list of proposals here.

“Small businesses play an important role in our science and exploration endeavors,” Jim Reuter, acting associate administrator of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said in a statement. “NASA’s diverse community of partners, including small businesses across the country, helps us achieve our mission and cultivate the U.S. economy. Their innovations will help America land the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024, establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface a few years later, and pursue exciting opportunities for going to Mars and beyond.”

All of the proposals selected have already completed phase I of the SBIR program, where the small businesses conceptualized their tech solutions. Phase II contracts last for 24 months, with a maximum funding of $750,000 for tech development. If small businesses make it to the final stage, phase III, they will focus on commercializing thieir innovative tech, products and services developed in previous phases.