NASA Small Spacecraft Opportunities

NASA Small Spacecraft Opportunities is sponsored by NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Space Technology Mission Directorate - NASA International Space Station NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights NASA Telescopes Create Colorful ‘Craft’ From Nearby Nebula What’s Up: August 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA Upcoming Launches and Landings Communicating with Missions James Webb Space Telescope International Space Station Earth Science Researchers Asteroids, Comets & Meteors The Search for Life in the Universe Astrophysics & Space Science Biological & Physical Sciences Human Space Travel Research Flight Research Innovation Technology Transfer & Spinoffs Manufacturing and Materials For Colleges and Universities Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, Speakers & Flyovers Upcoming Launches & Landings NASA Brand & Usage Guidelines NASA Swift Boost Spacecraft Prepares to Continue Mission Lion Nebula Roars to Life With NASA’s Webb NASA’s IMAP Mission Releases New Data From 7 Science Instruments NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact NASA Delivers Navigation System for Commercial Lunar Relay Establishing Crew Exposure Limits of Martian Dust Cascade Volcanoes Shrouded in Smoke Stops Along the Path of Totality NASA Completes Astronaut-Deployed Science Instrument for Lunar Surface Community College Instructors Bring Astronomy Textbook Into 21st Century Helio and You: Studying Eclipses Near and Far NASA Telescopes Create Colorful ‘Craft’ From Nearby Nebula Lion Nebula Roars to Life With NASA’s Webb Helio and You: Studying Eclipses Near and Far Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Polar Geospatial Center EarthDEM Elevation Products NASA Completes Astronaut-Deployed Science Instrument for Lunar Surface Lion Nebula Roars to Life With NASA’s Webb NASA, GE Aerospace Work Enables Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstration NASA Pushes New Wing Design to Find Structural Limits NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon NASA Completes Astronaut-Deployed Science Instrument for Lunar Surface Update to A.

1 Earth Science Research Overview: Earth Science proposals that include NASA high-end computing resources must include costs Launch Into a New School Year With NASA NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights NASA Shares Station Research Today Supporting Moon, Mars Tomorrow La NASA anuncia la cobertura de la misión lunar Artemis II Agenda diaria de la misión a la Luna de Artemis II de la NASA La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general Space Technology Mission Directorate Space Technology Mission Directorate Technology drives exploration and the space economy.

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) aims to transform future missions while ensuring American leadership in aerospace. STMD develops, demonstrates, and transfers new space technologies that benefit NASA, commercial, and other government missions.

Learn More About STMD about Space Technology Mission Directorate NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts NASA Announces New Spacecraft Technology Demonstration Mission at Moon Precision Astrometry Using Optically Independent Spacecraft for Graviational Wave Detection NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars NASA puts next‑generation propulsion to the test—a system powerful enough to carry crews to Mars and robots across the solar system.

The purpose of the Center Innovation Fund is to stimulate and encourage creativity and innovation within the NASA Centers in addressing the technology needs of NASA and the nation. Go to Center Innovation Fund Flight Opportunities rapidly demonstrates promising technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight providers.

The program matures capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry. Go to Flight Opportunities Game Changing Development GCD seeks to identify and rapidly mature high-impact capabilities and technologies, and investigate innovative ideas that have the potential to revolutionize future space missions.

Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) works across industry, academia, non-profits, and with other government agencies to catalyze the development of technology that will enable robotic and human exploration of the Moon and future operations on Mars.

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts NIAC nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs—radically better or entirely new aerospace architectures, systems, or missions. Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing NASA connects the public to the agency’s missions and explores creative possibilities for addressing the agency’s needs through prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing opportunities.

Go to Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide an opportunity for small, high tech companies and research institutions.

Small Spacecraft Technology The Small Spacecraft Technology program expands the ability to execute unique missions through rapid development and demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector.

Go to Small Spacecraft Technology Space Tech Research Grants Space Technology Research Grants will accelerate the development of high risk/high payoff technologies to support the future space science and exploration needs of NASA.

Go to Space Tech Research Grants Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) The mission of NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions is to bridge the gap between need and means, between scientific and engineering challenges and the technological innovations.

Technology Transfer and Spinoff The NASA Technology Transfer program ensures that innovations developed for exploration and discovery are broadly available to the public, maximizing the benefit to the nation.

Go to Tech Transfer and Spinoff NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) develops technologies through a community of entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators to solve the nation’s toughest challenges and enable future NASA and commercial missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. FreeFall Tests Spherical Antennas at 159,000 feet on NASA’s 60 million cubic foot stratospheric balloon.

Dr. Christopher Walker, NIAC Fellow / FreeFall Aerospace faces of technology videos Go to Faces of Tech Video Playlist Fission Surface Power, Project Manager at NASA's Glenn Research Center Research Electrical Engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center Aerospace Engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center Flight Test Campaign Manager for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program Deputy Manager for the Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project Office at NASA Avionics Systems Manager at NASA Celebrating the Women who Bring NASA Technology to Life Manager for NASA’s Prize Competitions Project Manager at Colorado State University Program Manager at NASA's Langley Research Center NASA Research Engineer at the National Institute of Aerospace Aerospace Engineer at NASA's Ames Research Center Mechanical Engineer at NASA's Langley Research Center Mechanical Engineer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Materials Scientist at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Materials Engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center Ranked Civil Space Shortfalls STMD is refining its strategy for prioritizing technology investments, with the goal of evolving into a stronger and more resilient national tech base for civil space.

Discover More Space Tech Topics STMD Solicitations and Opportunities Technology Transfer & Spinoffs