National Science Foundation and CASIS Unveil Seventh Transport Phenomena and Nanoscale Interactions Solicitation to Leverage Space Station

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), January 4, 2022 – For seven consecutive years, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has collaborated with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (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).), manager of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory, for a research funding opportunity focused on transport phenomena and nanoscale interactions 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.. This year’s joint solicitation will award up to $3.6 million for multiple flight projects to leverage the ISS National Lab to enable fundamental research in the fields of fluid dynamics, particulate and multiphase processes, thermal transport, combustion and fire systems, and nanoscale interactions.

Fundamental science is a key area of focus for the ISS National Lab, NSF, and NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration, as research in the persistent microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. environment of the orbiting laboratory spurs advances that bring value to our nation and pave the way for future inquiries in low Earth orbit.

Many processes that affect the behavior of fluids on Earth, such as convection, sedimentation, hydrostatic pressure, and buoyancy, are absent in microgravity. The persistent microgravity environment on the ISS provides several benefits for the study of fluid dynamics, multiphase processes, thermal transport, combustion and fire systems, and nanoscale interactions. Responsive proposals will describe how the proposed research will utilize the unique environment of the ISS to advance fundamental and translational research to benefit life on Earth.

Through this partnership, CASIS will facilitate hardware implementation and in-orbit access to the ISS, and NSF will fund the selected projects to further fundamental science and engineering knowledge.

Prior to submitting a full proposal to NSF for this solicitation, all interested parties must submit a Feasibility Review Form to CASIS for an evaluation of the operational feasibility of the proposed work to be conducted on the orbiting laboratory. The deadline to submit a Feasibility Review Form is January 25, 2022. Only projects that pass the CASIS Feasibility Review will be invited to submit a full proposal to NSF. The notification of a passing score must be included in the full proposal submission. NSF will close this grant solicitation on March 21, 2022.

Last summer, an awarded project from a prior NSF and CASIS solicitation made headlines when unusual “cool flames” were discovered during the investigation onboard the space station. Results from this project, led by a team of researchers from the University of Maryland, could lead to advancements in future engine production on Earth.

For more information on this solicitation, including how to submit a Feasibility Review Form, visit the CASIS solicitation webpage.

To learn more about previous CASIS and NSF research collaborations and additional opportunities to leverage the ISS National Lab, please visit issnationallab.org.

Media Contacts:       
ISS National Lab/CASIS
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

National Science Foundation
703-292-7090
media@nsf.gov

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under 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, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit issnationallab.org.

About the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2021 budget of $8.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts. www.nsf.gov

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