NIAC 2026 Selections

2 min read

NIAC 2026 Selections

Loura Hall

Jul 21, 2026

Article

A collage of artist concepts highlighting the novel approaches proposed by the 2026 NIAC awardees for possible future missions.

NASA/Left to Right: Keunhan Park, Michael Rubenstein, Austin Phoenix, Benjamin Schafer, A.C. Charania, Gilly Elor, Pablo Sobron, Marco Quadrelli, Daniel Drew, Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, Jeff Nosanov, Anish Damodaran 

Phase I

Saptarshi BandyopadhyayDimming the Sun (DimSun) Using Controllable Dust Cloud to Reduce Solar InsolationNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

David BugbyCombinatory Architecture offering Neomobility, on-Venus Adaptability, and Survivability (CANVAS)NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

Anish DamodaranPS21: Transforming Submillimeter Space Interferometry with Photonic TechnologiesUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando, FL  32826-29332026 Phase I

Artur DavoyanCoilable Stacked Solar Sails for Very High delta-V MissionsUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase I

A.C. CharaniaEARENDIL: Extended Astronaut Radioisotope-EVA in Nighttime and Deep-space Icy LandscapesZeno Power Systems, Inc.Washington, DC 20001-37012026 Phase I

Daniel DrewSolid-state Propulsion for Autonomous Reconnaissance of Karst (SPARK)University of HawaiiHonolulu, HI 96822-23032026 Phase I

Gilly ElorPower-over-Fiber to Enable a Lunar Underground eXplorer (LUX)Stone Aerospace, Inc.Del Valle, TX 78617-30172026 Phase I

Zhaoyan LiuQuantum Wind Lidar Applications for Planetary and Earth Science MissionsNASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, CA 94034-00012026 Phase I

Jeff NosanovOBLIVIAN: Observing Black hole LIght Via Intensity cOrrelatioNOrbital Velocity, LLCDecatur, GA 30033-41512026 Phase I

Keunhan ParkPlasmon-Enhanced Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (PRTPV) Power Generation for Interstellar MissionsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake City 84112-11092026 Phase I

Austin PhoenixECLIPSE – Efficient variable Conductivity Lunar Insulator for Passive Surveyor Environmental ControlVirginia Polytechnic Institute & StateUniversity, Blacksburg, VA 24060-56052026 Phase I

Marco QuadrelliPRAXIS: Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ SamplingNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase I

Michael RubensteinActively Steerable Femtosat Constellations for In-situ Exploration of Saturn’s Rings, Atmosphere, and MagnetosphereNorthwestern UniversityChicago Evanston, IL 60208-00012026 Phase I

Benjamin SchaferPhotophoretic Tracers for Near-Space Remote Sensing at 30-100 km AltitudesUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase I

David SmithRobotically Assembled Electromagnetic Metamaterials for Long-Range Space Situational AwarenessDuke University Durham, NC 27708-99762026 Phase I

Pablo SobronInterworld Slingshot Resource SurveysSETI InstituteMountain View, CA 94043-52032026 Phase I

Paul StankusMapping Alien Continents: Achieving Optical VLBI for Exoplanet ImagingBrookhaven Science AssociatesUpton NY 11973-00012026 Phase I

Paul StankusPrecision Astrometry Using Optically Independent Spacecraft for Graviational Wave DetectionBrookhaven Science Associates Upton, NY 11973-00012026 Phase I

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				Jul 21, 2026

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Loura Hall

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Source: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/niac/niac-studies/niac-2026-selections/