NASA Backs Technology Research NASA has awarded 368 contracts to small firms for research on innovative technologies. The awards, under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, total $36.8 million. Awards under Phase I of the SBIR program are for a maximum of $100,000 for one year. NASA said the projects were chosen from more than 1,600 proposals. Some companies received more than one award. Among the research topics are advanced aerospace adhesives to minimize aging and increase durability of aircraft; novel computational tools to better design future hypersonic spacecraft; new approaches to fire suppression in spacecraft environments; technologies to monitor crew health and well-being using very small-scale testing devices; new instruments for small lunar rovers or landers to enable critical mineralogical analysis for studying regolith, rock, ice, and dust samples; and advanced transmitters for deep space communications. NASA said past research under the programs has led to advances in air traffic control systems, Earth observing spacecraft, the International Space Station and the development of spacecraft for exploring the solar system. For a list of awards, see www.ipp.nasa.gov/ti_sbir.htm.