NASA
300 E Street SW, Washington, DC, 20546, United States
Overview
NASA's vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite the previous year. NASA grew out of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which had been researching flight technology for more than 40 years. President John F. Kennedy focused NASA and the nation on sending astronauts to the moon by the end of the 1960s. Through the Mercury and Gemini projects, NASA developed the technology and skills it needed for the journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first of 12 men to walk on the moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge. Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the aeronautics research pioneered by NACA. It also conducted purely scientific research and worked on developing applications for space technology, combining both pursuits in developing the first weather and communications satellites. After Apollo, NASA focused on creating a reusable ship to provide regular access to space: the space shuttle. First launched in 1981, the space shuttle flew more than 130 successful flights before retiring in 2011. In 2000, the United States and Russia established permanent human presence in space aboard the International Space Station, a multinational project representing the work of 16 nations. NASA also has continued its scientific research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder became the first in a fleet of spacecraft that will explore Mars in the next decade, as we try to determine if life ever existed there. The Terra and Aqua satellites are flagships of a different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, designed to help us understand how our home world is changing. NASA's aeronautics teams are focused on improved aircraft travel that is safer and cleaner. Throughout its history, NASA has conducted or funded research that has led to numerous improvements to life here on Earth.
- Total investments
- 4
- Lead investments
- 4
- Investments · 12mo
- 0
- Active investors
- 9
Sector focus
- Aerospace
- National Security
- Robotics
- Space Travel
Investment portfolio
- Rhea Space
Led · Grant · Mar 2024
Rhea Space Activity builds AutoNav, an optical navigation software that determines position by imaging moving space objects and is described as unjammable and unspoofable. AutoNav was originally flown on several NASA missions and has been adapted by RSA's engineers for military and intelligence operations in GPS-denied environments. The company positions AutoNav as a dual-use capability serving U.S. and allied defense and commercial customers, and says it has commercial traction and growing institutional investor backing. RSA plans to scale, productize, and adapt its technologies for deployments across allied partner operations and contested domains. Management has highlighted goals including scaling hiring, production, system validation, and supply-chain resilience to meet urgent mission needs. The company is headquartered in Washington, DC, with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Australia.
- Ampaire
Led · Grant · Aug 2023
Ampaire develops hybrid-electric retrofit systems that combine electric propulsion with conventional engines for existing commercial aircraft to lower fuel burn, reduce emissions and cut airline operating costs. The company has demonstrated its technology in flight and is pursuing product certification and scaled production. Ampaire plans to use the new Series B proceeds to accelerate commercialisation, build supply chains, expand manufacturing and scale operating capabilities. It has engaged with airlines and industry partners, including participation in an IAG-run accelerator where it explored hybrid-electric auxiliary power unit (APU) solutions. Investors in the latest round include IAGi Ventures, Alaska Airlines and DiamondStream Partners. The company positions its offerings as practical retrofit options for aircraft already in service.
- Olis Robotics
Led · Grant · Apr 2017
Olis Robotics builds Olis Connect, an edge-hosted PC and browser-controlled system that enables safe remote monitoring, troubleshooting, and direct control of industrial robot arms and cells without connecting to the cloud. The product supports cross-brand operation and currently provides full support for Universal Robots and FANUC, addressing roughly 20% of the operational stock of more than 3.5 million industrial robots worldwide. Olis Connect offers low-latency video (three cameras), remote error-correction actions, and KPI monitoring such as OEE, while respecting existing robot safety limits. The company is a spinoff from the University of Washington, with R&D roots tied to work for the US Navy and NASA, and is based in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. With new funding, Olis plans to add support for additional robot brands covering more than half of industrial robots, expand partnerships with North American system integrators, and develop new software products. Olis Robotics develops an AI-driven software platform that integrates existing robotic systems into a single, intuitive control platform. Its machine learning and progressive autonomy capabilities enable robots servicing satellites to perform multiple tasks, assist pilots, reduce pilot error, and increase the probability of mission success. The platform is designed to address latency by allowing robots to operate safely within set levels of autonomy even when commands are delayed. Olis is exploring uses for in-space assembly, inspections, testing satellite and manufacturing parts built in space, and servicing satellites for refueling, repair, or component updates. The company participates in NASA projects evaluating construction and servicing of manned habitats and in-space manufacturing and is involved in the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) to help define OOS and RPO standards. Founded in 2013 and based in Seattle with offices in Europe, Olis aims to extend satellite life and reduce the cost of orbital operations. BluHaptics builds software for remotely operating robots in subsea, terrestrial and space environments, focusing on real-time modeling, force feedback and machine learning to address latency, spatial awareness and control challenges. The company developed an ROV piloting application for underwater manipulator arms, with a commercial release scheduled for summer 2017. Last year it received a Phase II SBIR grant from the National Science Foundation to develop that subsea ROV piloting software. In 2017 BluHaptics was awarded a Phase I SBIR contract from NASA to adapt its proprietary software for remote robotic operations in space. The Phase I SBIR contract is expected to last six months with maximum funding of $125k. The company is led by CEO Don Pickering. BluHaptics develops software for telerobotics that integrates real-time modeling, machine learning, and haptic feedback to improve remote robot control. Its platform features a user-friendly visual interface designed to make it easier for operators to interact with and control robots in dangerous and unpredictable environments. The company is positioning its technology for subsea and space applications and plans a full release of its new application for underwater manipulator arms in summer 2017. BluHaptics is a University of Washington spin-out and has expanded into new offices in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood with an expanded robotics laboratory and additional hires. Financially, the company received more than $1 million in recent U.S. government grants and secured $1.36 million in Series A financing to support expansion and the launch of its first commercial product. CEO Don Pickering says the software extends the reach of robotics while enhancing productivity and safety for mission-critical tasks.