Why Nanotechnology at NASA? Advanced miniaturization is key thrust area to enable new science and exploration missions Ultrasmall sensors, power sources, communication, navigation, and propulsion systems with very low mass, volume and power consumption are needed Revolutions in electronics and computing will allow reconfigurable, autonomous, thinking spacecraft Nanotechnology presents whole new spectrum of opportunities to build device components and systems for entirely new space architectures Networks of ultrasmall probes on planetary surfaces Microrovers that drive, hop, fly, and burrow Collection of microspacecraft making variety of measurements.

Nanotechnology is the creation of functional materials, devices and systems through control of matter on the nanometer length scale 1100 nanometers, and exploitation of novel phenomena and properties physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, electrical... at that length scale. scientific and technical revolution has just begun based upon the ability to systematically organize and manipulate matter at nanoscale. For comparison, nanometers is times smaller than the diameter of human hair. Payoff is anticipated within the next 1015 years. Why Nanotechnology at NASA?

scientific and technical revolution has just begun based upon the ability to systematically organize and manipulate matter at nanoscale. Why Nanotechnology at NASA?