2 min readPreparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)A collage of artist concepts highlighting the novel approaches proposed by the 2026 NIAC awardees for possible future missions.NASA/Left to Right: Keunhan Park, Michael Rubenstein, Austin Phoenix, Benjamin Schafer, A.C. Charania, Gilly Elor, Pablo Sobron, Marco Quadrelli, Daniel Drew, Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, Jeff Nosanov, Anish Damodaran Phase ISaptarshi BandyopadhyayDimming the Sun (DimSun) Using Controllable Dust Cloud to Reduce Solar InsolationNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase IDavid BugbyCombinatory Architecture offering Neomobility, on-Venus Adaptability, and Survivability (CANVAS)NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase IAnish DamodaranPS21: Transforming Submillimeter Space Interferometry with Photonic TechnologiesUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando, FL 32826-29332026 Phase IArtur DavoyanCoilable Stacked Solar Sails for Very High delta-V MissionsUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase IA.C. CharaniaEARENDIL: Extended Astronaut Radioisotope-EVA in Nighttime and Deep-space Icy LandscapesZeno Power Systems, Inc.Washington, DC 20001-37012026 Phase IDaniel DrewSolid-state Propulsion for Autonomous Reconnaissance of Karst (SPARK)University of HawaiiHonolulu, HI 96822-23032026 Phase IGilly ElorPower-over-Fiber to Enable a Lunar Underground eXplorer (LUX)Stone Aerospace, Inc.Del Valle, TX 78617-30172026 Phase IZhaoyan LiuQuantum Wind Lidar Applications for Planetary and Earth Science MissionsNASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, CA 94034-00012026 Phase IJeff NosanovOBLIVIAN: Observing Black hole LIght Via Intensity cOrrelatioNOrbital Velocity, LLCDecatur, GA 30033-41512026 Phase IKeunhan ParkPlasmon-Enhanced Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic (PRTPV) Power Generation for Interstellar MissionsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake City 84112-11092026 Phase IAustin PhoenixECLIPSE – Efficient variable Conductivity Lunar Insulator for Passive Surveyor Environmental ControlVirginia Polytechnic Institute & StateUniversity, Blacksburg, VA 24060-56052026 Phase IMarco QuadrelliPRAXIS: Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ SamplingNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, CA 91109-80012026 Phase IMichael RubensteinActively Steerable Femtosat Constellations for In-situ Exploration of Saturn’s Rings, Atmosphere, and MagnetosphereNorthwestern UniversityChicago Evanston, IL 60208-00012026 Phase IBenjamin SchaferPhotophoretic Tracers for Near-Space Remote Sensing at 30-100 km AltitudesUniversity of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90024-00012026 Phase IDavid SmithRobotically Assembled Electromagnetic Metamaterials for Long-Range Space Situational AwarenessDuke University Durham, NC 27708-99762026 Phase IPablo SobronInterworld Slingshot Resource SurveysSETI InstituteMountain View, CA 94043-52032026 Phase IPaul StankusMapping Alien Continents: Achieving Optical VLBI for Exoplanet ImagingBrookhaven Science AssociatesUpton NY 11973-00012026 Phase IPaul StankusPrecision Astrometry Using Optically Independent Spacecraft for Graviational Wave DetectionBrookhaven Science Associates Upton, NY 11973-00012026 Phase IFacebook logo@NASATechnology@NASA_TechnologyShareDetailsLast UpdatedJul 21, 2026EditorLoura HallRelated TermsNIAC StudiesNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) ProgramResearch and Technology Mission DirectorateKeep ExploringDiscover More NIAC TopicsSpace Technology Mission DirectorateNASA Innovative Advanced ConceptsNIAC Funded StudiesAbout NIAC