Deadline for Submissions October 24, 2012

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (September 4, 2012) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research on board the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today issued a solicitation for proposals in Materials Testing in the Extreme Environment of Space.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to identify projects within the field of Materials Science, which CASIS will support through grant funding, facilitation of service provider partnerships, and flight coordination to and from the ISS. This RFP will focus on research in Materials Science that can be exposed to the extreme conditions of space in order to understand and make use of the physical and chemical properties influenced by microgravity, atomic oxygen, low pressure and/or vast temperature variations. This RFP will utilize the NanoRacks External Platform.

CASIS believes that this RFP will create interest for both experienced and new investigators who will endeavor to use the extreme conditions of space for the development and testing of new materials, components and systems that will have Earth-based applications.

“Through this solicitation, scientists will have the first opportunity to utilize a new and exciting capability outside the ISS National Lab, the NanoRacks External Platform,” said CASIS Interim Executive Director, Jim Royston. “This wonderful platform offers unique opportunities to put research in the extreme environment of space, leading to what CASIS hopes will be scientific breakthroughs in consumer products as well as new materials capable of changing life on Earth.”

Last month, CASIS closed its first solicitation for proposals; Advancing Protein Crystallization in Microgravity. In the coming weeks, CASIS plans to announce a request for proposals in Earth Observational Science.

For additional information about this RFP, including instructions and information regarding Materials Science, CASIS and the ISS please visit: www.iss-casis.org/solicitations

Proposals must be submitted electronically by 5pm EST on October 24, 2012 via the CASIS solicitations website page.