Small spacecraft technology
SpaceTech-REDDI-2023 Appendix S1: University Small Satellite Technology Partnership Launches
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has announced a call for proposals titled “University Small Satellite Technology Partnership (USTP)” as an addendum to the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2023 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2023)” under the Space Technology Mission Directorate. The call for proposals can be accessed by opening the NSPIRES home page at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/, selecting “Calls,” selecting “Open Calls,” and finally selecting “University Small Satellite Technology Partnership.” To go directly to the call for proposals page, please visit https://tinyurl.com/NASA-23USTP.
The Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) is intended to expand our ability to perform unique missions by rapidly developing and demonstrating small spacecraft capabilities applicable to exploration, science, and commercial space. To this end, the SST program seeks to:
Enable missions to be performed at a much lower cost than previously possible. Dramatically reduce the time required to develop a spacecraft, from approval to first launch capability. Enable and demonstrate new mission architectures specific to small spacecraft. Extend the capabilities of small spacecraft to perform missions to new destinations and in new challenging environments. Enable augmentation of existing assets and future missions by supporting small spacecraft.
The goals of this appendix include engaging with university teams with experience in small spacecraft development and expanding support to universities that have had little or no prior involvement in this field. Universities with experience in small spacecraft development are encouraged to team up with other universities to address these two goals.
Only accredited U.S. universities with campuses in the U.S. are eligible to submit proposals. Affiliation with a NASA Center is required (see call for details on eligibility and team composition requirements).
Individuals may only be Principal Investigators on one proposal in response to this call, but may participate as Co-Investigators or in other roles on multiple proposals (see call for restrictions).
This call seeks only proposals that address one of the three topics below.
Earth and Global Navigation Satellite System independent position navigation and timing for small spacecraft, Edge computing and machine learning architectures, software, platforms, devices, high specific power systems and thermal control for small spacecraft
NASA plans to cover other topics in future recruitment releases.
Financial and programmatic support for the University Smallsat Technology Partnership will come from the Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program in conjunction with the Flight Opportunity (FO) program within STMD. Awards are expected to begin in September 2023. NASA intends to make approximately eight awards as a result of this solicitation, contingent on receipt of outstanding proposals. The actual number of awards will depend on the quality of proposals received. NASA reserves the right to not make any awards based on this solicitation.
This solicitation employs a two-stage selection process. Mandatory preliminary proposals (MPPs) must be submitted electronically via NSPIRES by Tuesday, May 16, 2023. After the MPP review process, selected proposers will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. Full proposals must be submitted electronically via NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative and must be submitted by Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Detailed submission instructions and deadlines are provided in the solicitation. Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the submission system, ensure they are registered with NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal materials well ahead of the deadline.
Comments or questions should be emailed to Christopher Baker, Small Spacecraft Technology Program Executive, at HQ-STMD-SST-Partnerships@nasaprs.com. Responses to inquiries may be included in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation. Anonymity of individuals/institutions submitting questions will be maintained.
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