Past Opportunity
RFP 2020-3
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Utilizing MISSE for Materials Science Research and Technology Demonstrations in Space
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit concepts that propose use of the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab for investigations in the field of materials science, device testing, or other research and development (R&D) areas that require external space exposure. Investigators associated with any U.S.-based institution (academic, government, commercial, or nonprofit) may propose ISS National Lab flight experiments that use the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) Flight Facility, an in-orbit platform from Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance deployed externally onboard the ISS.
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. / NSF Solicitation #:
RFP 2020-3
NLRA Open Period:
4/7/2020 – 5/22/2020
Strategic Focus:
Technology Development/Demonstration
Research Area:
Materials Testing
Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity
The Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility on the external side of the ISS.
Media Credit: NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
The ISS National Lab seeks proposals for devices, new technologies, and materials that are compatible with the MISSE Flight FacilityThe Materials International Space Station Experiment Flight Facility is a hardware platform on the exterior of the ISS that provides exposure to the harsh space conditions for the accelerated testing of materials and technologies with important applications both in space and on Earth. This ISS National Lab commercial facility is owned and operated by Aegis Aerospace.. Proposed flight projects may include:
- Passive exposure: Experiments in which samples are mounted on the outside of the sample carrier and/or under deck and are thus passively exposed to the space environment.
- Active exposure: Powered experiments in which samples are mounted on the outside of the sample carrier and/or under deck, operations are performed, and in-orbit sensors are used to collect data that is stored locally and/or transmitted back to Earth.
Exposure conditions made accessible by the space station’s position 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. include but are not limited to atomic oxygen, vacuum, unfiltered ultraviolet radiation, high-energy radiation, impact of meteoroids and orbiting man-made debris, and continuous cycling between extreme high and low temperatures.
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 note that the ISS National Lab will evaluate proposals based on their scientific and technical merits and downstream value potential or Earth benefit. Proposed projects with downstream commercial applications in space must demonstrate the terrestrial economic and/or technical benefit of such applications. Proposals requesting funds for project development costs will not be considered as part of this solicitation. Requested funding may apply only to costs associated with payload integration and services for Alpha Space support. Costs of transportation to and from the space station are covered as part of the ISS National Lab Cooperative AgreementA cooperative agreement is Federal assistance that establishes a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient in which the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation. Since 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) has managed the National Laboratory® through a Cooperative Agreement with NASA. with NASA.
The International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory encourages applicants to read the entire solicitation description and proposal instructions carefully before submitting proposed projects to ensure compliance with content and submission guidelines.
** 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 NLRA2020-3 in the subject line.