Wow! This new NASA space technology bid looks to turn Science Fiction into Reality

tech.hindustantimes.com:

That NASA is working on path breaking technology is not really a revelation. After all, that is what NASA is all about. The American space agency is known for both building as well as fostering new technologies that constantly improve not only space missions but also improve life on Earth. But amazingly, this time, NASA is trying to turn science fiction into reality! Today, on February 26, NASA announced that it has funded 17 futuristic space technology concepts with high potential to help it reach new milestones. These NASA futuristic technologies have been granted a total of $5.1 million for further research and building proof of concept. The NASA funding was part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program that supports early-stage studies which evaluate technologies that could support future aeronautics and space missions.

Announcing the NASA funding in its website, the space agency explained that the selected concepts are divided into two parts. Phase I has 12 new projects that will begin work under NASA and Phase II has 5 studies “that will allow researchers to continue their prior work on innovative concepts”. Elaborating on the overarching vision behind these studies, Pam Melroy, Deputy Administrator, NASA said, “Concepts like those being studied with this new round of NIAC funding are helping us expand the scope of the possible so we can make it reality.”

So, what projects are being studied by NASA? The Phase I NASA futuristic technology projects include an innovative design for a crewed spacecraft that offers more protection from radiation during long journeys compared to the existing models. There are also concepts for “a completely silent electric airplane and an idea for a spacecraft that could