Moves are afoot to try and reinstate the now defunct NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), or something like it.

NIAC was established back in early 1998 and was closed down on August 31, 2007, aced out by budget bean counters.

As a forward thinking entity, NIAC is the group that put lift into such concepts as the space elevator, gave oomph to far-out propulsion ideas, and cast an eye on novel ways to image other planets, as well as make technological fashion statements by supporting radical space suit designs.

Word is that there’s growing interest in supporting an Institute for Advanced Concepts, perhaps funded via multiple government agencies outside NASA.

Joining in on the push is U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia, recently urging NASA top honcho, Mike Griffin, “to preserve this innovative and revolutionary Institute.” The lawmaker has requested Griffin to “give every consideration to allowing the NASA Institute to partner with other agencies.”

If you want to check in on NIAC leftovers — a kind of rest in pieces website — visit:

http://www.niac.usra.edu/