ISS National Lab and National Science Foundation Announce Joint Solicitation on Transport Phenomena

Solicitation will provide up to $3 million in grant funding for investigators to utilize the International Space Station

October 30, 2019

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), October 30, 2019 – The International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) U.S. National Laboratory and the National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced a “Transport Phenomena” joint solicitation open to investigators interested in leveraging resources onboard the orbiting laboratory for research in the areas of fluid dynamics, particulate and multiphase processes, thermal transport, nanoscale interactions, and combustion and fire systems. Up to $3 million will be awarded for multiple research investigations to support flight projects to the ISS National Lab. The ISS National Lab and NSF previously partnered on three separate fluid dynamics/multiphase processes solicitations and an additional funding opportunity focused on combustion and thermal transport.

The purpose of this solicitation is to attract proposals that make use of the ISS National Lab for research projects in the fields related to the NSF Transport Phenomena Cluster and Nanoscale Interaction programs. The persistent microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. environment on the ISS National Lab provides several benefits for the study of fluid dynamics, multiphase processes, thermal transport, nanoscale interactions, and combustion and fire systems. Many processes that affect the behavior of fluids on Earth, such as convection, sedimentation, hydrostatic pressure, and buoyancy, are absent in microgravity.

Through this partnership, the ISS National Lab and NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration will facilitate hardware implementation and in-orbit access to the microgravity research platform, and NSF will fund the selected projects to advance fundamental science and engineering knowledge.

Prior to submitting a full proposal to NSF, all interested parties must submit a Feasibility Review Form to the ISS National Lab no later than January 10, 2020. The ISS National Lab will notify offerors of a passing or failing review score within three weeks of submission of the Feasibility Review Form. Only projects that pass the Feasibility Review will be invited to submit a full proposal to NSF. The notification of a passing score must be included in the full proposal submission. NSF will close this grant solicitation on March 2, 2020.

For more information on the Feasibility Review, visit: NSF/CASIS 2020 Collaboration on Transport Phenomena Research on the ISS to Benefit Life on Earth.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the solicitation via the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport Systems (CBET) in the NSF Engineering Directorate.

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About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation’s newest national laboratory to optimize its use for improving quality of life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The ISS National Lab manages access to the permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles., and the extreme and varied conditions of space.

About the National Science Foundation: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, its budget is $8.1 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 50,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards. Learn more at www.nsf.gov.

Media Contacts:    
ISS National Laboratory
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

National Science Foundation
703-292-7090
media@nsf.gov

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