Past Opportunity
2018 Materials Science RFP
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Utilizing the MISSE platform for Materials Science Research in Space
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab) and Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance, LLC (Alpha Space) are partnering to provide the materials research and technology sectors with an opportunity to access and utilize the Alpha Space Materials International Space Station Flight Facility (MISSE). This Request for Proposals (RFP) will solicit commercial entities, governmental agencies, and academic investigators for flight research projects in the field of materials and technology testing in the extreme environmental conditions of space.
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 #:
N/A
NLRA Open Period:
2/1/2018 – 3/30/2018
Strategic Focus:
Technology
Development/Demonstration
Research Area:
Watch the webinar to learn about this opportunity
An astronaut installs a Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) facility on the exterior of the ISS during a spacewalk in 2001.
Media Credit: NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Purpose
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. is a commercially-available materials research facility that will reside externally aboard the ISS, offering researchers the ability to test concepts in the extreme environment of space. Applicants will describe using the MISSE Flight Facility (created and managed by Alpha Space) aboard the ISS National Lab for research, development and testing of materials and/or technologies that will lead to Earth-based applications and improve life on our planet.
By leveraging the MISSE Flight Facility externally, researchers can take advantage of temperature variation, atomic oxygen, enhanced radiation exposure, among other factors. Testing on the outside of the space station can have broad impacts to the general academic community, but also multiple industries. Researchers within the field of (but not limited to) advanced manufacturing, automotive, aeronautics, energy and transportation industries are encouraged to submit flight concepts to utilize this facility.
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 “ISS National Lab/Alpha Space MISSE RFP” in the subject line.