The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs - radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts - while engaging America's innovators and entrepreneurs as partners in the journey. NIAC projects study innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts that could one day "Change the Possible" in aerospace. NIAC supports innovative research through two phases of study, both competitively awarded. The Phase Ⅰ studies are for nine-month efforts to explore the overall viability of visionary concepts. Phase Ⅱ studies further develop the most promising Phase Ⅰ concepts for up to two years, and explore potential infusion options within NASA and beyond. Since 2011, NIAC has funded 70 studies (60 Phase Ⅰ and 10 Phase Ⅱ). It is anticipated that five to seven new Phase Ⅰ studies will be selected in August. This paper discusses NIAC's history and current role, and provides summary statistics about the recent selections.
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