Innovative Propulsion]

> From Dennis May:
>
> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 11:37:15 -0600
>
> I remember reading some year and a half ago that
> NASA was funding SBIR [Small Business Innovative
> Research] Grants for innovative space propulsion
> systems. I haven't heard any follow-up on how
> things are going or what systems received awards.
> Has anyone heard anything?
>
> Some which might be getting such money include:
>
> The pulsed laser driven spinning mirrored top which
> rides atop the beam on plasma "pops".
>
> The small probe which will use solar plasma
> pressure interacting with its own artificially
> created plasma halo.
>
> I used to evaluate SBIR proposals for the Air
> Force but not in this area. The NASA search
> for proposals seemed pretty far outside the
> original SBIR intent, since innovative propulsion
> systems for $50,000 seems like asking a
> Lamborghini dealer to take $5 down and $5 a
> month.
>
> http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/bpp/ is one of the
> sites discussing this topic.
>
> Dennis May
>
the large aerospace companies are going to buy up most
of new space ideas. big money drowns out fresh ideas.
beachcop51503