Ron Turner | Foresight's Space Group Virtual Seminar
Foresight Institute’s Space Group
A short history and status of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program
Abstract: The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future aerospace 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 is unique within NASA. It is a program that values both technical acumen and imagination, inspired by curiosity and the quest for knowledge. NIAC encourages innovators to be creative and attempt great leaps forward in aerospace. NIAC studies explore innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts that could one day “Change the Possible” in aerospace. This talk provides some background on NIAC’s history and status.
Bio: Dr. Turner has over 40 years of experience at ANSER, with expertise in space systems and space weather. Dr. Turner has served as the Senior Science Advisor to the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program since 2010. For nine years he was the ANSER point of contact to its predecessor, the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), an independent institute charged with creating a vision of future space opportunities to lead NASA into the twenty-first century. He is an internationally recognized expert in radiation risk management for astronauts, particularly in response to solar storms. He participates in efforts to understand NASA’s requirements for operational space weather support. From 2021 to 2025 he served on NASA’s Space Weather Council, advising NASA on Space Weather research and operational support. Dr. Turner has served on numerous National Academy studies advising NASA and the Nation on issues related to the risk of radiation to astronauts. Dr. Turner’s contributions to NASA were recognized with the award of the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal in 2015. His advanced degrees in Physics include a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University and a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. (https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-the-nasa-innovative-advanced-concepts-niac/)
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