8/22/90: RESPONSE TO SEI OUTREACH PROGRAM STRONG, NASA SAYS

RELEASE: 90-114


     NASA announced today that response has been strong to its 
request for ideas on how to return to the Moon permanently and 
begin human exploration of Mars.  The ideas were solicited under 
NASA's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) Outreach Program 
announced by NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly on May 31.

     The Outreach Program consists of three primary channels for 
ideas, which will be provided directly to a Synthesis Group, 
chaired by Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret.).  Under 
the program, the RAND Corporation is analyzing ideas from 
industry, universities, associations and the public; the American 
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) solicited ideas 
from its members; and Federal agencies were invited to provide 
direct input to the Synthesis Group.  The Synthesis Group is 
responsible for synthesizing the inputs from all sources into 
several architectures for the SEI and for identifying early 
milestones and promising technologies, as well.

     The AIAA has received more than 400 ideas from its 
members.  The ideas will be the focus of a conference on 
"Innovative Technologies for the Exploration of Space," co-
sponsored by NASA and the AIAA on September 5 and 6 at the Ramada 
Renaissance Techworld, Washington, D.C.

     General Stafford will be the keynote speaker at the 
conference on September 5.  He will be followed by Arnold 
Aldrich, Associate Administrator of NASA's Office of Aeronautics, 
Exploration and Technology, who will speak on the SEI.

     The conference will focus on innovative concepts, systems 
and technologies submitted by AIAA members.  The conference is 
organized into five sessions to cover Architecture and Systems; 
Transportation; Human Support Technologies and Systems; Planetary 
Surface Systems and Technologies; and Infrastructure 
Technologies.

     As of August 17, the RAND Corporation received more than 
10,000 requests for response packets under the SEI Outreach 
Program and notices of intent to submit 3,302 ideas.

     Of the intended responses, 68.7 percent are from 
individuals, 16.3 percent are from aerospace companies and other 
for-profit enterprises, and 8.1 percent are from educational 
institutions.  The remainder are in other categories.

     Space transportation is the focus of the largest category of 
intended responses to RAND with 16.7 percent.  Other categories 
include mission concepts (16.5 percent), life support systems 
(10.3 percent), structures and materials (9.8 percent), space and 
surface power (7.4 percent), space processing and manufacturing 
(6.3 percent), system design and analysis (5.7 percent), 
automation and robotics (4.7 percent), communications (4.1 
percent), ground support and simulation (3.4 percent), and 
information systems (2.3 percent).  The remainder are in other 
categories.


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