Space Technology Enterprise

Technological advances and their applications have been the engine behind U.S. productivity growth since World War II. This growth depends on a continuing supply of new, innovative technologies, readily available to industry. STE will provide a program of leading-edge exploratory and focused technology to ensure continued U.S preeminence in space. In partnership with industry and the NASA mission enterprises, STE will establish new plateaus of technical capability to reduce the cost of NASA's science and exploration missions, enable new and more challenging missions, and support U.S. economic growth and national security. In addition, the Enterprise will assist industry in using the unique attributes of space to create new scientific knowledge, enabling a host of new aerospace and nonaerospace commercial services, products, and industries, with corresponding increases in American jobs.

The following are goals of STE:

Reduce the cost of access to space.
Provide innovative technologies to enable ambitious, future space missions.
Build capability in the U.S. space industry through focused space technology efforts.
Share the harvest of space endeavors with the U.S. industrial community.

a graphical representation of the goals of the Space Technology Enterprise as described in this article.

To achieve these goals, STE will employ the following strategy:

In partnership with the other Enterprises, STE will develop and verify enabling, cutting-edge technologies for future space science, exploration, and commercial missions and will identify and mature high-risk/high-payoff advanced concepts that enable revolutionary new space activities. In addition, it will nuture world-class capabilities that are critical to the development of space technologies.

Industry concepts for fully reusable Earth-to-orbit launch vehicle.

STE will establish jointly funded partnerships with commercial entities and other Government agencies having a direct interest in utilizing NASA expertise, technologies, facilities, or services. Recognizing the timely requirements of the commercial world, it will rapidly complete agreements and licensing arrangements to stimulate the development and commercialization of technology. The development of technology that has dual-use potential will be emphasized. Thus, STE will help enhance the vitality of established space industries and nurture emerging and potential space industries.
The Space Technology Enterprise has established the Goddard Space Flight Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Marshall Space Flight Center as Lead Centers, supported by technology Centers of Excellence (as shown in the "Framework" section of this Plan). The commercial development and technology transfer processes are implemented through a coordinated network of Commercial Technology Offices at each Field Center. The Space Product Develop-ment program is managed by Headquarters through the Centers for the Commercial Development of Space or selected NASA Centers. The Centers develop partnerships with commercial organizations for research activities, utilizing space for commercial products and services.

A key focus of STE will be to reduce the cost of space-related activities. In cooperation with industry, technology leading to a new class of small, capable, and low-cost spacecraft will be developed. Also in partnership with industry, technology will be developed that will lead to a development decision for an economical, safe, and operable fully reusable launch system(s) that will meet the future access-to-space needs of small to large payloads.

STE will lead NASA in transferring technology to the commercial sector by providing techniques and mechanisms to assist all Enterprises in their technology transfer efforts. STE will also seek and facilitate technology "spin-in" from non-NASA sources. Technicians inspecting a satellite. STE will ensure program relevance and maintain a customer focus by involving its industry, Federal laboratory, and university customers, along with the other Enterprises, in program planning, review, and evaluation.

Exploratory research on innovative satellite control technologies could lead to substantial reductions in spacecraft weight.