The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory today released a new research announcement soliciting flight concepts for “Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab.”
This solicitation is open to a broad range of technology areas including chemical and material synthesis in space, bonding, translational medicine, in-space edge computing and on-demand cloud computing technologies, and the use of ISS remote sensing data to improve geospatial analytics for commercial use.
Space-based technology development and demonstration is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab, as it provides an opportunity for accelerated technology maturation to enable advancements that improve life on Earth and build commerce in low Earth orbit. Through this research announcement, offerors may propose to use the unique ISS environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that have a demonstrated potential to produce near-term and positive direct or indirect economic impact.
More specifically, emphasis will be placed on proposals for the testing and space qualification of hardware prototypes and for advancing process improvements, such as (but not limited to):
Hardware prototype testing: Innovations addressing hardware product development gaps and emerging technology proliferation in the areas of computing, electronics, nanotechnologies, robotics, sensors, communications, remote sensing, and satellite technology.
Process improvements: Use of the ISS as a test bed for advancing development of facilities for high-throughput investigations, use of space-based data to facilitate modeling of industrial systems, or demonstration of new methodologies for spaceflight research and development.
Advanced materials: Current advanced materials research that addresses the development of next-generation production methods, the testing of novel materials, and the exploitation of materials with unique properties.
Translational medicine: Validation of accelerated disease modeling, analyzation of macromolecular structures for drug design, and demonstration of novel drug delivery and diagnostic services.
This research announcement will follow a two-step proposal submission process. Before being invited to submit a full proposal, all interested investigators must submit a Step 1: Concept Summary for review. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the ISS National Lab, will host a webinar on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 2 p.m. EST to discuss ISS facilities and capabilities associated with this research announcement. A recording of the webinar will be made available to the research community through the research announcement webpage.
Step 1: Concept Summaries must be submitted by end of day on April 17, 2023. Step 2: Full Proposals (from those invited to submit) will be due by end of day July 17, 2023.
Flight concepts selected via this research announcement may be awarded funding to enable mission integration and operations support for projects that will be implemented on the ISS. The total set aside funding for this research announcement is approximately $750,000, with an expectation to make three to five awards. To learn more about this opportunity, including how to submit a Step 1: Concept Summary, please visit the research announcement webpage. To learn more about the ISS National Lab and the science that it sponsors, please visit our website at www.ISSNationalLab.org.
