NASA SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 Appendix F1: Tech Flights Now Open
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation titled “Technology Advancement Utilizing Suborbital Flight Opportunities ‘Tech Flights’” as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020).” The purpose of the Appendix is to provide funding for the testing and suborbital demonstration of technologies for sustainable lunar exploration and the expansion of commercial activity in space. Selected technologies will be funded for testing on U.S. commercial suborbital vehicles as a bridge between laboratory testing and demonstration in Earth orbit or beyond.
Mandatory abstracts are due by March 20, 2020, at 5:00 pm ET with proposals due on or before April 24, 2020, at 5:00 pm ET. Note that the submission of a mandatory abstract is a prerequisite for submitting a full proposal. Selections will be announced in August 2020 (target). The solicitation is available by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com, selecting “Solicitations,” then selecting “Open Solicitations,” and selecting “Technology Advancement Utilizing Suborbital Flight Opportunities “Tech Flights”.” To go directly to the solicitation page, visit https://tinyurl.com/NASA-20FO-
The Flight Opportunities program will conduct two Q&A sessions to provide an overview of the Appendix and to answer questions about the proposal process. The sessions will be held on the following dates:
Day 1: Wednesday, Mar 11, 2020
Tech Flights 2020 F1 Q & A
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Pacific Time
WebEx website: https://nasaenterprise.webex.
WebEx Meeting number: 906 190 571
WebEx Meeting password: wsHJ37MzT*7
Teleconference number: 844-467-6272
Teleconference listen-only passcode: 4554039
Day 2: Thursday, Mar 12, 2020
Tech Flights 2020 F1 Q & A
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
WebEx website: https://nasaenterprise.webex.
WebEx Meeting number: 901 694 497
WebEx Meeting password: QBnmSnx*333
Teleconference number: 844-467-6272
Teleconference listen-only passcode: 4554039
See the solicitation page on NSPIRES for more details on the Q&A sessions and how to submit questions in advance.
STMD’s Flight Opportunities program facilitates rapid demonstration of promising technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight providers. The program matures capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry. Technologies must address one of the following topics: 1) Supporting Sustainable Lunar Exploration and the Expansion of Economic Activity into Cislunar Space, 2) Fostering the Commercialization of Low Earth Orbit and Utilization of Suborbital Space.
All U.S. private entities (for-profit & non-profit), Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (except NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)), and U.S. Universities may propose under this Appendix. Proposing U.S. entities may include a participating foreign entity but shall not transfer any awarded funds to their foreign partner. This Appendix is applicable to external, non-NASA Principal Investigators. NASA employees and contractors may, however, participate as Co-Investigators and/or Collaborators.
See Appendix Section 3.0 for complete eligibility restrictions. Awards to this Appendix will be accomplished via grants and/or cooperative agreements. See Appendix for cost share requirements.
The technology proposed for flight must have successfully completed ground-based development and be ready for demonstration, testing, or collection of design data in a space-like environment relevant to its intended use.
The financial and programmatic support for the Flight Opportunities program comes from the STMD. Awards are planned to start in October 2020. NASA plans to make approximately 10-20 awards as a result of this Flight Opportunities solicitation, subject to the receipt of meritorious proposals and the availability of funds. The actual number of awards will depend on the quality of the proposals received; NASA reserves the right to make no awards under this solicitation.
Mandatory abstracts and proposals must be submitted electronically using NASA’s proposal data system, NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com). The abstract may be submitted by the Principal Investigator; all proposals must be submitted by an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the solicitation. Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission system(s), ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required abstract and proposal materials well in advance of the deadlines.
Technical and programmatic comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to the Flight Opportunities Program Executive, Christopher Baker at HQ-STMD-FO@nasaprs.com. Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation. Anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.
