NASA iTech Finalists Announced, 10 Companies to Present at Competition Forum
Updated June 19, 2019: Please note location change to Mountain View, CA.
NASA iTech challenges entrepreneurs to think outside the box and consider applications for their innovations in space. A range of technology ideas, from new mixed reality headsets to deployable antennas, could support future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA has selected competition finalists to present their ideas, July 10-11 at the NASA iTech forum in Mountain View, California. Chief technologists from various NASA centers, other federal agencies and industry will listen to the presentations and meet with participants. NASA judges will then choose three winners of the 2019 NASA iTech Cycle I competition.
“NASA iTech provides the opportunity for companies to engage with NASA center chief technologists, investors, and industry leaders so they can continue to make an impact on Earth and in space,” said Kira Blackwell the NASA iTech program executive for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). “These interactions between NASA, industry and entrepreneurs are valuable for the entire community.”
Among the finalists are medical, data, material and other technologies. The top 2019 NASA iTech Cycle I finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
- Aris MD, Wilmington, Delaware
Three-dimensional medical scans - Cluster Imaging, Inc., Sunnyvale, California
A technology that adds depth to images for accurate image recognition - CREAL3D, Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland
Next-generation display of virtual and mixed reality headsets and smart glasses that creates hologram-like images - Enduralock, LLC, Lenexa, Kansas
A new fastener that permanently locks with high vibration resistance, while providing reversibility and reusability - GoRout, Rochester, Minnesota
Wearable helmet display system that shows football play diagrams - LOOMIA Technologies, Inc., New York, New York
Light and flexible space structures - Momentus Inc., Santa Clara, California
Spacecraft that use water as fuel to move satellites between different orbits. - Oxford Space Systems, Harwell, United Kingdom
Light-weight deployable antennas for space - WISER Systems, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina
Instantaneous location and tracking in a variety of environments
The three winning teams will be selected and recognized during a non-monetary awards ceremony at the culmination of the forum. They will receive continued mentorship to help further develop the technologies for the commercial market.
Registration for the 2019 NASA iTech Cycle I Forum is open. The event will also be broadcast on livestream.com/nasaitech. Media interested in covering the forum should contact Clare Skelly by July 3 to preregister.
An initiative by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA iTech aims to find innovative ideas that have the potential to overcome critical technology hurdles facing future exploration of the Moon and Mars, even though many were originally meant to solve important problems here on Earth.
For information about NASA iTech, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/itech
Clare Skelly
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4273
clare.a.skelly@nasa.gov
Harla Sherwood
National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va.
757-636-6300
sherwood@nianet.org