Technologies addressing exploration needs from the portfolio of NASA´s Innovative Partnerships Program

NASA´s Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) develops many technologies to meet NASA´s exploration technology needs through a portfolio of technology investments and partnerships. The investment portfolio includes Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), the IPP Seed Fund, and NASA´s Centennial Challenges prize program. The IPP office works closely with NASA´s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate to identify technology needs that can be addressed from the IPP portfolio, in a complementary manner to other technology investments being made. This paper lays out the scope of the IPP technology portfolio focused on exploration technology needs, some of the methods used to identify technology needs and gaps, and provides examples of technology development activities and demonstrations that are addressing important technology needs in key areas.