NASA Lunar Surface Technology Research Opportunities Solicitation Released
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has released “Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Opportunities” as an appendix to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 solicitation. The LuSTR appendix is available at https://tinyurl.com/NASA-
Only accredited U.S. universities are eligible to submit proposals. Teaming is permitted – see the LuSTR text for complete eligibility requirements, as well as teaming restrictions.
The goal of LuSTR is to accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies that support and enable lunar surface activities to be conducted under Artemis – the core of NASA’s exploration and human spaceflight plans for the next decade. The starting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the efforts to be funded as a result of the LuSTR Appendix will be TRL 2 – TRL 4; TRL advancement is required.
LuSTR solicits proposals that are responsive to two Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative focus areas: In-Situ Resource Utilization and Sustainable Power. Under these focus areas, LuSTR solicits proposals in response to the following six topics:
- Advanced Technologies for the Extraction and Processing of Water from Regolith
- Determining the Spatial Distribution and Geotechnical Properties of Water-Bearing Regolith
- Flexible Power Distribution for Difficult-to-Reach and Mobile Applications
- Advanced, Radiation-Tolerant Power Electronics
- Low-Temperature Batteries
- Advanced Power System Control for Interoperability
The financial and programmatic support for LuSTR come from the Space Technology Research Grants Program within STMD. Awards are expected to be of 1-2 years in duration, and total budgets are expected to range between $1M and $2M per award, depending on the scope and duration of the proposed project. Awards are planned to start in May 2021. NASA plans to make up to 10 awards but may make no awards, or may exceed 10, subject to the receipt of meritorious proposals and the availability of funds.
A Principal Investigator (see LuSTR text for restrictions) or Co-Investigator may participate in no more than two proposals in response to this appendix. NASA encourages submission of LuSTR proposals on behalf of women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities.
All proposals may be submitted via NSPIRES or through Grants.gov by the authorized organizational representative of an eligible organization. Notices of Intent (strongly encouraged) are due by August 12, 2020, with proposals due on or before September 9, 2020, 5 pm Eastern Time.
Comments and questions may be addressed to hq-LuSTR@mail.nasa.gov. Responses will be answered by email and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the LuSTR NSPIRES page. Anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.
