Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids for the Exploration of Small Solar System Bodies Ritter, Joe: Ultra-Light "Photonic Muscle" Space Structures Scott, Gregory: Low Power Microrobotics Utilizing Biologically Inspired Energy Generation Short, Kendra: Printable Spacecraft Sibille, Laurent: In-Space Propulsion Engine Architecture based on Sublimation of Planetary Resources: from exploration robots to NEO mitigation Silvera, Isaac: Metallic Hydrogen: A Game Changing Rocket Propellant Slough, John: Nuclear Propulsion through Direct Conversion of Fusion Energy Staehle, Robert: Interplanetary CubeSats: Opening the Solar System to a Broad Community at Lower Cost Strekalov, Dmitry: Ghost Imaging of Space Objects Stysley, Paul: Laser-Based Optical Trap for Remote Sampling of Interplanetary and Atmospheric Particulate Matter Swartzlander, Grover: Steering of Solar Sails Using Optical Lift Force Tarditi, Alfonso: Aneutronic Fusion Spacecraft Architecture Thibeault, Sheila: Radiation Shielding Materials Containing Hydrogen, Boron, and Nitrogen: Systematic Computational and Experimental Study Tripathi, Ram: Meeting the Grand Challenge of Protecting Astronaut's Health: Electrostatic Active Space Radiation Shielding for Deep Space Missions Werka, Robert: Proposal for a Concept Assessment of a Fission Fragment Rocket Engine (FFRE) Propelled Spacecraft Westover, Shayne: Radiation Protection and Architecture Utilizing High Temperature Superconducting Magnets Whittaker, William: Technologies Enabling Exploration of Skylights, Lava Tubes and Caves Wie, Bong: Optimal Dispersion of Near-Earth Objects 2012 NIAC Project Selections In August 2012, NIAC announced selection of 18 new phase-I proposals, along with Phase-II grants for continuation of 10 projects selected in earlier solicitations. These include many projects ranging from Landsailing rovers on Venus to schemes to explore under the ice of Europa. Phase I projects selected were: Agogino, Adrian: Super Ball Bot - Structures for Planetary Landing and Exploration Arrieta, Juan: The Regolith Biters: A Divide-And-Conquer Architecture for Sample-Return Missions Cohen, Marc: Robotic Asteroid Prospector (RAP) Staged from L-1: Start of the Deep Space Economy Ditto, Thomas: HOMES - Holographic Optical Method for Exoplanet Spectroscopy Flynn, Michael: Water Walls: Highly Reliable and Massively Redundant Life Support Architecture Gellett, Wayne: Solid State Air Purification System Hoyt, Robert: NanoTHOR: Low-Cost Launch of Nanosatellites to Deep Space Hoyt, Robert: SpiderFab: Process for On-Orbit Construction of Kilometer-Scale Apertures Kirtley, David: A Plasma Aerocapture and Entry System for Manned Missions and Planetary Deep Space Orbiters Landis, Geoffrey: Venus Landsailing Rover Lantoine, Gregory: MAGNETOUR: Surfing Planetary Systems on Electromagnetic and Multi-Body Gravity Fields McCue, Leigh: Exploration of Under-Ice Regions with Ocean Profiling Agents (EUROPA) Nosanov, Jeffrey: Solar System Escape Architecture for Revolutionary Science (SSEARS) Predina, Joseph: NIST in Space: Better Remote Sensors