"NASA Invests in Deep-Space Interferometer Research for Cosmic Exploration"
NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has awarded $175,000 to University of Washington astronomer Matthew McQuinn to develop a solar-system-scale interferometer for measuring cosmological distances with unprecedented precision. The proposal involves deploying a constellation of radio dishes more than 10 AU apart in deep space to detect fast radio bursts from beyond the Milky Way. This Phase I grant will allow McQuinn to refine the mission concept and assess its feasibility. NIAC has also funded 12 other innovative projects, including a Venus sample return mission, an electric airplane for Mars, and miniaturized spacecraft for interstellar travel.