the ISS National Lab seeks information from vendors to support payload development

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (January 31, 2012) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab)—the nonprofit entity selected in 2011 by NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration to maximize utilization of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory—released a Request for Information (RFI) today seeking information about potential implementation partners, service providers and organizations that can provide project integration and operations support for payloads.

As part of its mission, the ISS National Lab will facilitate the matching of laboratory users with commercial providers for the purpose of developing research payloads. The RFI, which closes on March 31, 2012, will allow the ISS National Lab to establish a database of providers that can support a wide variety of payload needs.

The complete RFI can be viewed at issnationallab.org/RFI, but an overview of provider functions include:

• Interfacing with the ISS National Lab and the NASA ISS payloads office on behalf of the researcher.
• Providing flight-certified hardware to support research objectives.
• Conducting required testing to verify science and hardware requirements.
• Developing required documentation packages.
• Supporting NASA reviews and crew training.
• Coordinating ground-analog requirements and post-processing activities.
• Conducting data analysis and/or other support activities per user needs.
• Providing technical support for STEM and outreach activities associated with payloads.

Prospective respondents are requested to include examples of previous experience in research, education or commercial areas.

“Many companies have the capability to provide support and integration services for space-based work,” said the ISS National Lab Director Dr. Jeanne Becker. “the ISS National Lab looks forward to new opportunities for bringing together these providers with the NL user community.”

For more information about the ISS National Lab operations and utilization of the space station’s U.S. National Laboratory, visit issnationallab.org.

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About the ISS National Lab: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISS National Lab) was selected by NASA in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. the ISS National Lab is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. For more information, visit issnationallab.org.

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