NASA Centenial Challenges Program: Small Spacecraft Challenges RFI (Lunar CubeSat)

Synopsis – Jun 09, 2014

Lunar CubeSat Centennial Challenge Rules Appendix1 – Posted on Jun 09, 2014 

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNH14STMD004L

Posted Date: Jun 09, 2014

FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 09, 2014

Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No

Original Response Date: Jul 11, 2014

Current Response Date: Jul 11, 2014

Classification Code: A — Research and Development

NAICS Code: 541712

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

1 SUMMARY The Centennial Challenges Program is NASA’s flagship program for technology prize competitions (www.nasa.gov/challenges). The Centennial Challenges Program directly engages the public, academia, and industry in open prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies that have benefit to NASA and the nation. The program is an integral part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA’s future missions. For more information about NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech .

The Centennial Challenges program seeks input on two challenges being considered for start in 2014. The two challenges described in this RFI are based upon feedback to an earlier CubeSat Challenges RFI (http://go.usa.gov/BBSj ) released in February 2014. The challenges build, deliver, and operate flight-qualified small spacecraft capable of advanced operations near the moon and beyond.

The purposes of this RFI are: (1) to gather feedback on the two updated challenges being considered, the overall challenge structure, draft rules, and prize amounts and (2) to determine the level of interest in potentially competing in these challenges.

The first challenge will award up to $3,000,000 in cash prizes to registered competitors that are able to meet or exceed technical objectives for 1) propulsion, 2) communication, and 3) longevity while in lunar orbit. The second challenge will award up to $1,500,00 in cash prizes to registered competitors that are able to meet or exceed technical objectives for 1) communication and 2) longevity beyond lunar distances. Up to $1,000,000 will also be awarded for successful competition of Ground Qualification Competition reviews.

The proposed challenges are NASA’s first prize competitions to demonstrate and compete in deep space and would be carried into trans-lunar trajectory of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) on the first launch (EM-1) of the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion planned for Fiscal Year 2018 or on non-NASA vehicles that the competitor secures.

Please submit responses in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format. Responses should include (as applicable): name, address, email address, and phone number of the respondent, business, or organization, with point of contact for business or organization and are limited to ten (10) pages in length.

This RFI seeks feedback on the competition phases, draft rules, the prize amounts and distribution structure, and/or interest in competing in these Challenges. Comments must be submitted in electronic form no later than July 11, 2014 to Mr. Sam Ortega at e-mail address: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov. Use CubeSat Challenges on the Subject line.

NASA welcomes replies to this RFI from all segments of industry, academia, and government, including associations, innovators, and enthusiasts. This RFI is for informational/planning purposes only and the Government will not be responsible for any cost associated with preparing information in support of this RFI. This RFI is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into any agreement or other obligation or to conduct small spacecraft challenges. This notice is issued in accordance with the NASA Prize Authority, 51 U.S.C. S 20144. Responses may be made available for public review and should not include proprietary information. Submitted information will be shared within NASA and with contractor personnel associated with the NASA Centennial Challenges Program. All responses are for general access by government reviewers.

For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges . The point of contact is Mr. Sam Ortega, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, Marshall Space Flight Center.

2 BACKGROUND NASA is considering initiating two challenges to incentivize development of deep space science and exploration capabilities for small spacecraft, including CubeSats, with the intention of broadening the national capability to support future exploration architectures. The CubeSat small satellite form factor will be used for these competitions. It offers many potential advantages for future space applications–whether for public or private use–including: low cost, small size and mass, and easier integration with launch vehicles through the use of standardized deployment canisters. Advancements in small spacecraft capabilities may not only provide benefit to future missions, but may enable entirely new mission scenarios.

To date, CubeSat communications technology has been limited to low-bandwidth data communications in near-Earth orbits. CubeSats often use low power / low-gain communications subsystems, unique protocols, or amateur radio wavelengths not suitable for advanced science missions in the remote distances of deep space. Also, developers are only starting to introduce limited in-space propulsion systems to CubeSats. These two challenges seek to solve these problems and, by demonstrating fully functional spacecraft near the moon and beyond, establish precedent for all the subsystems necessary for deep-space exploration with small spacecraft.

3 CHALLENGE DESCRIPTIONS The spacecraft in these competitions must comply with standard CubeSat design specifications be 6U form factor. There will be in-space and ground qualification competitions for both challenges. The two challenges will be conducted concurrently.

The CubeSat Lunar Propulsion and Communications Challenge is designed to foster innovations in propulsion and communications techniques for small spacecraft systems operating in lunar orbit. This Challenge will award up to $3,000,000 in cash prizes to registered competitors that are able to meet or exceed technical objectives for 1) propulsion and 2) communication while in orbit around the Moon (In-Space Competition Phase). Specific Challenge requirements and prize allocations are defined in Appendix 1.

The NASA CubeSat Deep Space Communications Challenge will award up to $1,500,000 in Prize Awards to registered competitors that are able to meet or exceed technical objectives for communication from at least ten times beyond the lunar distance. (In-Space Competition Phase) Specific Challenge requirements and prize allocations are defined in Appendix 2.

Before the In-Space Competitions, a Ground Qualification Competition phase will be held for both challenges to determine which competitors will be offered a NASA provided launch opportunity as a secondary payload on the first launch (EM-1) of the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion planned for Fiscal Year 2018. The CubeSats selected for the EM-1 flight will be deployed on a trans-lunar insertion trajectory. Up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes will be available in Ground Qualification Competition phase.

Registered competitors may also elect to use a non-NASA provided launch opportunity. The end date of both challenges will be determined by reference to the NASA-provided launch date and the results of all competitors, regardless of launch vehicle, will be considered at the end of competition to determine the winner(s). All competitors will be judged using the same criteria regardless of launch vehicle. Competitors choosing to use a non-NASA launch are not eligible to participate in the Ground Qualification Competitions.

Competitors may enter both Challenges but must use a single spacecraft and will have to meet all rules associated with the respective challenges in order to win a prize from each challenge.

4 INFORMATION SOUGHT Based upon responses to this RFI, NASA will develop final written challenge rules (“Rules”). The Rules will include specific milestones, entrance, review and acceptance criteria, and prize award criteria. The final Rules would be the official specification of the competition structure. NASA seeks information and comments on the following:

a. Competition Names 

* Suggest official names that best, succinctly, characterize these Centennial Challenges. Provide comments on how the naming could increase the public interest in the prize competition. What other actions should be taken to increase public interest?

b. Competition Milestones and Phases 

* Are the start date, end date, review dates, and durations of the competitions appropriate? 

* How can the Milestones, Reviews, and Phases be better structured? 

* There are a series of reviews required for EM-1 secondary payload selection. These reviews are needed to ensure that SLS payload requirements are being met on a timely basis. Do you have any suggestions or concerns regarding these reviews? 

* Do you intend to compete for an EM-1 launch or will you secure a launch on a non-NASA launch vehicle?

c. Competition Awards 

* NASA anticipates that up to $5,500,000 in prizes will be divided between the two challenges, including both the GQC and the in-space competitions. Are the award levels and distribution appropriate for each challenge? Do the award levels and distribution structure sufficiently incentivize participation? Should teams not seeking the EM-1 flight opportunity still be eligible to participate in GQC? What effect will making those teams NOT eligible have on competition? Is it preferable to have those teams fly and demonstrate independent of the NASA ground demonstration process?

d. Launch Selection 

* What are alternatives and merits of specific approaches for determining which competitors are selected for the EM-1 launch opportunity? 

* Should more than one entry per team be allowed? 

* What are the limits on orbit elements at the time of separation of your CubeSat from the EM-1 launch vehicle?

e. Competition Performance, Tracking and Distance Determination 

* Competitors must provide a way for judges to independently validate spacecraft distance, and communication data origin. How do you plan to address this for communications, spacecraft distance, and/or lunar orbit?

(Note that if the proposed method is inadequate, NASA may require the competitor to use NASA or other independent ground stations not affiliated with the competitor and to pay associated costs.) 

* Pressurized propellant vessels may not be allowed without a waiver in CubeSats integrated with the EM-1 launch vehicle. What is the minimum pressure level that you must have to compete?

* NASA intends to release the CubeSats on a trans-lunar trajectory, details of which are in development. When must you know these details? What are your constraints on your initial spacecraft trajectory at the time of separation by NASA from the Launch Vehicle, for you to successfully achieve a stable lunar orbit? What Delta-V do you expect your spacecraft could generate? 

* EM-1 may be able to accommodate CubeSats with a 12U form factor. Would this larger spacecraft form factor be of interest to you? Why? 

* Explain any additional resources that you need NASA to furnish.

Lunar Propulsion and Lunar Communications Challenge 

* Are there aspects of the challenge competition metrics that should be added, modified, or deleted? 

* Are there any rules or other requirements that you recommend be added, deleted or changed and in what manner? 

* Are the parameters for lunar orbit and competition duration appropriate?

Deep Space CubeSat Communications Challenge 

* Are there aspects of the challenge competition metrics that should be added, modified, or deleted? 

* Are there any rules or other requirements that you recommend be added, deleted or changed and in what manner? 

* Are the parameters for distance and competition duration appropriate?

f. Technology Development and Utilization What are the alternatives to the use of DSN or other government ground assets? 

* What are the non-technical concerns regarding use of non-government ground communications assets? (For example: licensing, cooperation/coordination of private ground networks, etc.) 

* Are there specific emerging breakthrough technologies that are applicable to the competition? 

* Are there ways to adjust the competition metrics that would assist with the synergy with commercial space and/or non-space applicability?

g. Interest 

* Are you interested in participating in these competitions? 

* Are there barriers to competition that can be addressed in the formulation of these challenges? 

* Would a pre-registration team summit in the fall be useful to you to help understand the challenge requirements, processes for FCC spectrum licenses, teaming opportunities, etc…?

5 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This RFI is seeking feedback on the competition phases, the prize amounts and distribution structure, and/or interest in competing in any or all phases of this Challenge. Comments must be submitted no later than 23:59 EDT July 11, 2014 to Mr. Sam Ortega at e-mail address: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov. Use CubeSat Deep Space Challenges on the Subject line.

For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges . The point of contact is Mr. Sam Ortega, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Point of Contact

Name: Sam Ortega

Title: Program Manager Centennial Challenges Program

Phone: 256-544-9294

Fax: 000-000-0000

Email: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov