• artificial gravity – structural concepts for artificial gravity systems, including long deployable trusses and tethers that can hold together while spinning through interplanetary space. Such systems should also include methods to control rotation rate and structural dynamics.
• inflatables – concepts for inflatable truss elements that self-rigidize to enable the in-space assembly of large platforms, and inflatable habitats with integral radiation shielding, impact shielding, thermal management, and equipment to keep tabs of the overall health of the inflatable hardware.

• Space resources – excavation, extraction, collection, beneficiation technologies for lunar and/or Martian resources, autonomous or tele-operated robotic technologies for surface facility assembly and maintenance; and, technologies for off-Earth creation of solar photovoltaic systems or other energy systems.

More information on this is available from the Exploration Office website, including a Word file with details on these and other research areas of interest.

One of the program areas in this announcement, High Energy Space Systems, is headed up by Nantel Suzuki, a young Canadian who I happened to meet in Spain last month at the Solar Power from Space conference. For all you Canadians on the board, he informed me he’s NOT related to David Suzuki… Anyway, light-weight solar arrays, key to space solar power and solar electric propulsion, are one of the many areas of interest in this announcement.