NLRA 2024-1

National Lab Research Announcement

Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab

The purpose of this ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) is to solicit proposals focused on flight investigations within applied research and development, translational medicine, technology readiness level maturation, and technology demonstration to be performed on the space station. 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 2023-8

NLRA Open Period:
Cycle 1: 10/4/2023 – 3/11/2024
Cycle 2: 2/28/2023 – 7/17/2023
Cycle 3: 5/15/2023 – 10/9/2023

Strategic Focus:
Technology Development

Research Area:

Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity

The Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD), in the grasp of the Kibo laboratory robotic arm, is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member on the International Space Station as it deploys a set of NanoRacks CubeSats. The CubeSats program contains a variety of experiments such as Earth observations and advanced electronics testing.

The Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD), in the grasp of the Kibo laboratory robotic arm, deploys a set of NanoRacks CubeSats.

Media Credit: NASA

 CASIS, 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. Technology development and demonstration enabled by access to space brings significant growth potential from the ability to accelerate technology maturation. Through this research announcement, offerors may propose to use the unique ISS environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that have a demonstrated potential to produce near-term and 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. **

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 2.1: 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 NLRA2023-8 in the subject line.

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