These technology proposals came from 2018 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, which was split into two phases. Phase I programs were selected on innovations that could improve space exploration.
According to NASA, Phase I awards were valued at about $125,000 over nine months, during NASA support initial definition and analysis of their concepts. If these basic feasibility studies are successful, awardees can apply for Phase II awards.
The proposals include meteoroid impact detection, space telescope swarms and small orbital debris mapping technologies that may benefit future space exploration missions.