Past Opportunity
NLRA 2021-5
National Lab Research Announcement
In-space Production Applications: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
The purpose of this ISSInternational Space Station National Lab Research Announcement (NLRAThe abbreviation for an ISS National Lab Research Announcement. NLRAs are one of the ISS National Lab’s primary mechanisms to solicit proposals in specific research areas.) is to solicit proposals for applied research and development seeking to demonstrate space-based manufacturing and production activities in 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.. Flight projects selected via this research announcement may be awarded funding to enable mission integration and operations support for projects that will be implemented on the ISS.
NLRA / NSF Solicitation #:
NLRA 2021-5
NLRA Open Period:
3/22/2021 – 7/12/2021
Strategic Focus:
In-Space Production Applications(Abbreviation: InSPA) InSPA is an applied research and development program sponsored by NASA and the ISS National Lab aimed at demonstrating space-based manufacturing and production activities by using the unique space environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that could have an economic impact.
Research Area:
Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity
Montage of flame images for a burning 1-cm-wide cotton-blend fabric.
Media Credit: NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center
CASIS(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes)., in coordination with NASA, has identified multiple ISS National Lab lines of business that support strategic priorities and programmatic focus areas aimed at bringing value to our nation and enabling a robust and scalable market 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.. For the in-space production line of business, research concepts are desired for which space-based testing can uniquely enable technical solutions to known science and engineering challenges and the creation of new products and business opportunities. The objective is to use the unique ISS environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that have a demonstrated potential to produce near-term, positive direct or indirect economic impact.
Steps to Applying for This Research Opportunity
This research announcement will follow a two-step proposal submission process. Before being invited to submit a full proposal, all interested investigators must first complete and submit for review a Step 1: Concept Summary.
** Please verify that none of the information submitted is subject to the export control laws of the United States, such as the EAR or the ITAR; if any information is subject to such laws, please mark all pages containing such information and identify the appropriate export control jurisdiction and classification. **
Thank you for your interest in conducting research leveraging the ISS National Lab! For questions regarding this research announcement, please contact info@ISSNationalLab.org and reference NLRA2021-5 in the subject line.