The National Reconnaissance Office Advanced Systems and Technology
Directorate annually runs an R&D solicitation program called the
Director's Innovation Initiative. This is an unclassified program to
solicit Innovative R&D proposals associated with remote sensing and
related technologies. The program is announced mid-summer via a Broad
Area Announcement posted on the http://www.nro.gov web site. The
announcement closes around Thanksgiving, source selection occurs the
week before Christmas, and contract awards are in January. Each
successful project is awarded up to $350K, with a strict 9-month period
of performance. The projects funded are seen as "seed" projects to
explore innovative new ideas. Successful projects may become candidates
for continuing longer term funding. You are encouraged to visit the
NRO web site and become familiar with AS&T activities.
New Web Site
http://www.remotesensing.com is a new government-sponsored web site
offering open source software image map (OSSIM) software. This software
uses a model-based approach to orthorectification of IKONOS, LANDSAT,
etc., and can be applied to NTM. You are encouraged to visit the web
site and evaluate the potential utility of this to your activities.