NASA Seeks Early Stage Innovations For Space Technologies From U.S. Universities – NOI Due June 21, 2012

NASA is seeking proposals from accredited U.S.universities focused on innovative, early-stage space technologies that will improve shielding from space radiation, spacecraft thermal management and optical systems.

Each of these technology areas requires dramatic improvements over existing capabilities for future science and human exploration missions. Early stage, or low technology readiness level (TRL) concepts, could mature into tools that solve the hard challenges facing future NASA missions. Researchers should propose unique, disruptive or transformational space technologies that address the specific topics described in this new solicitation.

“Both science and human deep space missions pose serious challenges that require new, innovative technological solutions,” said Space Technology Program Director Michael Gazarik at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Radiation, thermal management and optical systems were all identified in the National Research Council’s report on NASA Space Technology Roadmaps as priority research areas. This call seeks new ideas in these areas.”

Space radiation poses a known danger to the health of astronauts. NASA is seeking proposals in the area of active radiation shielding (such as “shields” of electromagnetic force fields surrounding a spacecraft to block incoming radiation) or new, multifunction materials that are superior to those that exist today are sought. NASA also is interested in new technologies for active monitoring and read-out of radiation levels astronauts receive during long space trips.

Current space technology for thermal management of fuels in space is limited. NASA is seeking early-stage technologies to improve ways spacecraft fuel tanks and in-space filling stations store cryogenic (very low temperature) propellants, such as hydrogen, over long periods of time and distances. NASA also is seeking novel, low-TRL heat rejection technologies which operate reliably and efficiently over a wide range of thermal conditions.

The next generation of lightweight mirrors and telescopes requires advanced optical systems. NASA is seeking advancement of early-stage active wavefront sensing and control system technologies that enable deployable, large aperture space-based observatories; technologies which enable cost-effective development of grazing-incidence optical systems; and novel techniques to focus and detect X-ray photons and other high-energy particles.

NASA expects to make approximately 10 awards this fall, based on the merit of proposals received. The awards will be made for one year, with an additional year of research possible. The typical annual award value is expected to be approximately $250,000. Second year funding will be contingent on the availability of appropriated funds and technical progress. Only accredited U.S. universities may submit proposals to this solicitation. Notices of intent are due by June 21, 2012, with proposals due July 12.

To view the Early Stage Innovation NASA Research Announcement and information for submitting proposals, visit: http://go.usa.gov/P31

The solicitation is a part of NASA’s Space Technology Program, managed by the Office of the Chief Technologist. For more information about the Space Technology Program and the crosscutting space technology areas of interest to NASA, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/oct

Request For Information (RFI) on Science Objectives and Requirements for the Next NASA UV/Visible Mission Concepts

Request For Information (RFI) on Science Objectives and Requirements for the Next NASA UV/Visible Mission Concepts
Solicitation Number: NNH12ZDA008L
Release Date: May 25, 2012
Response Date: August 10, 2012

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), through the Astrophysics Division, solicits information pertaining to potential ultraviolet (UV) and visible wavelength astrophysics science investigations. Specifically, NASA seeks information that can be used to develop a cohesive set of science goals that motivate and support the development of the next generation of UV/Visible space astrophysics missions. Information may include broad science goals, justifications for investigations that support Cosmic Origins (COR) Program science goals (for examples, visit http://cor.gsfc.nasa.gov/), specific measurements or proxy observing plans for well-defined astrophysical experiments, or any aspect of scientific inquiry in the UV/Visible that supports the above COR goals.

This is a RFI only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that NASA will take procurement action in this matter. Further, neither NASA, nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred in furnishing this information.

This RFI is posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select ‘Solicitations’ then ‘Open Solicitations’ then ‘NNH12ZDA008L’).

ISS Research and Development Conference June 26-28, 2012

Announcing the 1st Annual ISS Research and Development Conference Results and Opportunities, June 26 – 28, 2012 at the Denver Marriott City Center http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/iss_conference.html. The Agenda, registration and hotel information can be found at http://www.astronautical.org/ .

This conference will focus on ISS research and development research results and future opportunities in physical sciences, life sciences, Earth and space sciences, and spacecraft technology development. Plenary sessions will highlight major results and pathways to future opportunities. Plenary and Parallel Session speakers will be discussing their research results and plans for future utilization of the ISS. A workshop for new users will be held on the 3rd day to help them develop ideas for their own experiments using this unique laboratory.

Conference registration is online. Potential researchers can get a leg up on building their ideas by visiting NASA’s space station Research and Technology website.

The conference is organized by the American Astronautical Society in cooperation with NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS).

ROSES-12 Amendment 6 Appendix C.21: In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: Astrodynamics Research Grants

The In-Space Propulsion Technology: Astrodynamics Research Grants (ISPT:ARG) Program is seeking astrodynamics research that falls into two categories: 1) Research or development of an astrodynamics algorithm or methodology suitable for infusion into one of ISPT’s existing tools (Mystic, MALTO, Copernicus, SNAP, and/or OTIS) and 2) Research or development applicable to the development of a new tool to meet the needs of future NASA planetary science missions.

Notices of Intent are due by June 11, 2012 and 7-page proposals are due by August 20, 2012. Tables 2 and 3 of the Summary of Solicitation for this NRA will be updated to reflect these changes.

On or about May 21, 2012, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2012″ (NNH12ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and will appear on the RSS feed at: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2012

2012-2013 National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition – Registration Deadline Sept 30, 2012

Enter the National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition

The National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition is the Montana Space Grant Consortium’s Education Program for NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, mission. IRIS will use spectrography and imaging in ultraviolet wavelengths to reveal the dynamics of the sun’s chromospheres and transition region.

This yearly competition is open to undergraduate interdisciplinary teams from colleges and universities across the U.S. Teams are challenged to design and build a working ground-based solar spectrograph and demonstrate the capabilities of the spectrograph as defined by their science goal. Typical teams have three to six students and must have a faculty advisor.

Both substantial scholarship prizes and travel prizes will be given in four categories: best design, best build, best science observations and best presentation of results. Teams may apply for funding of $2,000 per team for project materials. Priority for build funds will be given to minority-serving institutions, community colleges and institutions with less aerospace activity.

Applications for build awards and registrations are due on Sept. 30, 2012.

The competition will be held in Bozeman, Mont., in May 2013. For more information and to register online, visit http://www.spacegrant.montana.edu/IRIS/index.html

Announcement of Flight Opportunities #4 – Deadline May 11, 2012

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden has released a solicitation, entitled “NASA Announcement of Flight Opportunities (AFO) for Payloads Maturing Crosscutting Technologies that Advance Multiple Future Space Mission to Flight Readiness Status.” AFO #4 provides access to flights on suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles (sRLV) and High Altitude Balloons.  Parabolic flights are full until at least late 2013, so proposals for parabolic aircraft flights will NOT be accepted at this time.  They may be included in a later solicitation.

Applications are due on or before 5:30 PM Eastern Time May 11, 2012 and selections will be announced in July 2012 (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 “NOCT110 Announcement of Flight Opportunities.”  To go directly to the solicitation page on NSPIRES click here.

NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) seeks to mature towards flight readiness status crosscutting technologies that perform relevant environment testing and advance multiple future space missions.  To facilitate this goal, NASA is providing access to certain flight opportunities available to the Agency, on a no-exchange-of funds basis, to entities that have technology payloads meeting specified criteria.  They may be exposed to a near-zero or reduced gravity environment by flying on aircraft that provide parabolic flight trajectories and on sRLVs that are potentially capable of flying to altitudes above 100 km.  For flight tests that do not require microgravity, but do require the temperature, pressure and atmospheric conditions of high altitudes, balloon flights are available.   Refer to http://flightopportunities.nasa.gov/ platforms for specific information on vehicle and flight characteristics.

This call is open to all individuals and organizations, U.S. and non-U.S.  Such organizations may include educational institutions, industry, nonprofit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), other Government agencies, and partnerships between such entities.

Science payloads will not be evaluated under this announcement.  Prospective responders with science payloads are encouraged to respond to open solicitations for science from the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Human Exploration and Operations Research Mission Directorate (HEOMD).

All applications must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR).  Potential applicants, and proposing organizations are urged to access the electronic proposal system well in advance of the application due date to familiarize themselves with its structure and to enter the requested information.  It may require several weeks for non-U.S.  organizations to obtain the registrations needed to submit a proposal.

Comments and questions may be sent via e-mail to peer-review-afo@nasaprs.com.  Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.

Fourth Annual Space Grant Faculty Senior Design Training Faculty Workshop – July 19-20, 2012

NASA Human Exploration and Operations Higher Education Project in partnership with the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program Presents the Fourth Annual Space Grant Faculty Senior Design Faculty Training Workshop

NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations is hosting a free 2-day faculty workshop in the summer of 2012, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The purpose of this workshop is to prepare higher education faculty to implement the following Exploration senior engineering design course with a strong focus on the NASA systems engineering process:

“Hybrid Rocket Experiment Station for Capstone Design” by Dr. Edgar Conley with New Mexico State University

The course meets the quality standards of an ABET-accredited program and implements the NASA systems engineering process. All NASA engineering projects utilize this process; therefore, the course will help prepare students to work for NASA and space industry partners.

Workshop Dates: July 19 & 20, 2012
Workshop Times: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: July 9, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. EDT

The workshop is open to U.S. citizens only. Travel reimbursements available on a first come first served basis.
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/kennedy/technology/ESMDWorkshop.html

Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge – Begins March 28, 2012

Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge

Tournament Details.

Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge

NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT’s Space Systems Laboratory are offering the opportunity to design experiments that will be tested in space aboard the International Space Station.

The Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge is a programming tournament that uses bowling ball-sized spherical satellites aboard the International Space Station. These Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, are used inside the space station to test maneuvers for spacecraft performing autonomous rendezvous and docking.

This challenge opens the SPHERES satellite research platform to the general public for the first time. The goal of the tournament is to write a computer program to control a satellite to dock with a space object that may be tumbling through space. The best algorithm submissions from simulation competitions will be tested in microgravity on real SPHERES satellites aboard the International Space Station.

The Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge is open to anyone 13 years of age or older who meets eligibility requirements. Participants may work individually or in teams of up to 50 members to write their own algorithms to fly the satellites in the station.

The contest runs March 28 – April 25, 2012. Registration is now open and teams must join the competition by April 20, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.zerorobotics.org/web/zero-robotics/tournament-details?tournamentId=6.

The Zero Robotics project, a component of the ISS National Laboratory Education Project, or NLEP, is facilitated by MIT, TopCoder and Aurora Flight Sciences, continues the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, focus of the SPHERES facility. The Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge expands on a pilot program performed in 2009, 2010 and 2011. By making the benefits and resources of the space program tangible to high school and college students, Zero Robotics is designed to inspire future scientists and engineers. Students will have the opportunity to push their limits and develop skills in STEM. This program builds critical engineering skills, such as problem solving, design thought process, operations training, team work and presentation skills.

MIT’s Space Systems Laboratory started operations of SPHERES in 2006 to provide DARPA, NASA and other researchers with a long-term test bed for validating technologies critical to the operation of future satellites, docking missions and satellite autonomous maneuvers. The satellites provide opportunities to test a wide range of hardware and software at an affordable cost.

For additional information about NASA and MIT’s Zero Robotics program, visit http://www.zerorobotics.org.

For additional information about DARPA, visit http://www.darpa.mil.