There are obviously a lot of scientific missions at NASA. In putting that together, we think about the needs of the various missions. The way we think about it is roadmaps are what we could do, prioritization is what we should do, and funding is what we will do. NTB: After the roadmaps, how does NASA determine which technology investment is most important?ĭr.Miller: We go through our prioritization process, and then obviously budget season actually tells you what you can afford to do. This is a new product that we have that allows the external community – the public – to see what we’re working on and how we’re spending their dollars, and find out where they might like to work with us. You can see what we’re working on, why we think it’s important, who’s working on it, and who you might contact if you want to learn more. Or on jet engines and technologies like that. You can go through and ask “What technology are you working on in propulsion?” Or guidance systems. You can also go to a public Web site, which was just started here in the beginning of March: TechPort (). If you go to and to the Office of the Chief Technologist, you can download our roadmaps and see where you might fit in – if you’re a researcher, or if you want to be a researcher. The process basically maps the different technologies to the missions that they enable, so we know the potential impact of each technology. One’s for landing systems for landing on other planets. First, we try to understand the landscape: What are the technologies that we could invest in? We do that through our roadmapping activity. Miller: It all starts with making some tough decisions. NTB: How do you prioritize the various technology investments across NASA?ĭr. Probably the most fun part is that I get to advise the Administrator, Charles Bolden, about all things technology. I’m also the lead at the agency in helping to set up challenges and prizes, and engage the broader community. I engage with the external community and try to best understand what’s happening elsewhere outside of NASA and the world of technology. I also work on prioritizing technology and the investments that we ought to make. David Miller: The Chief Technologist advocates for technology investment at NASA. NASA Tech Briefs: What does the Chief Technologist do?ĭr. Miller, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has also previously worked with a range of NASA programs including the space shuttle, the International Space Station, the JWST Product Integrity Team, and the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative. He currently serves as the agency’s principal advisor and advocate on NASA technology policy and programs. David Miller began his term as the NASA chief technologist on March 17, 2014.
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