Past Opportunity
NLRA 2023-5
National Lab Research Announcement
Leveraging the International Space Station for Education and Workforce Development
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 to leverage the ISS for education and workforce development. This solicitation seeks projects to expand education programs, projects, or public-private partnerships that leverage the ISS or space-based research to engage K-12 students, enhance higher education, or expand online educational engagement via existing or new programming. In addition, all proposals must promote diversity, inclusion, and outreach into underrepresented demographics.
NLRA / NSF Solicitation #:
NLRA 2023-5
NLRA Open Period: Cycle 1:
12/12/2022 – 5/3/2023
Strategic Focus:
Education and
Workforce Development
Research Area:
Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity
A 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). education specialist leads a science experiment with students during a CASIS Academy Live session.
Concepts submitted in response to this announcement must specifically state how proposed initiatives will target and reach underrepresented demographics and must also address at least one of the following goals:
- Expand the content and impact of Space Station Explorers by developing digital engagement platforms to increase student and educator participation in existing or new partner programs, including online education products.
- Create higher education initiatives that deliver opportunities for students enrolled in U.S. colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools to increase diversity, equality, and inclusion in space-based research, technology development, and the commercialization of 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..
- Digitize space-based K-12 or higher education programming.
- Develop Career and Technical Education Industry Certifications (CTEs) that pertain to the preparation of students for space careers, or provide professional development for educators who will facilitate CTEs that prepare students for space careers.
Steps to Applying for This Research Opportunity
This solicitation is open to U.S.-based institutions (academic, government, commercial, or nonprofit) with a vested interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development.
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. **
Step 1.1: Download Instructions
Step 1.2: Upload your Step 1: Concept Summary by pressing the “Click to Submit” button below. Please convert your document to a PDF prior to uploading.
Step 2.1: CASIS will notify all offerors of the review results of their Step 1: Concept Summary.
Step 2.2: If you were invited to submit a Step 2: Full Proposal, upload your submission by pressing the “Click to Submit” button below. Please convert your document to a PDF prior to uploading.
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 NLRA2023-5 in the subject line.