SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- AMERICAN STUDENT MOON ORBITER ASMO CONCEPT
- Notice Date
- 7/1/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 611430
— Professional and Management Development Training
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
- ZIP Code
- 94035-1000
- Solicitation Number
- ASMO-Request_for_Information
- Response Due
- 9/30/2008
- Archive Date
- 7/1/2009
- Point of Contact
- Beatrice Morales, Grant Officer, Phone 650-604-2074, Fax 650-604-0932, - Sharon L. Connolly, Contracting Officer, Phone 650-604-6927, Fax 650-604-0932
- E-Mail Address
-
beatrice.m.morales@nasa.gov, sharon.l.connolly@nasa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1.0INTRODUCTIONThe NASA Office of Education supports projects that provide student learning experiencesin science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Additional information onNASA Education can be found in the NASA Education Strategic Coordination Framework at: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Strategic_Coordination_Framework.html.The NASA Office of Education is currently considering the development of a distributeduniversity-based, student-led satellite development initiative, the American Student MoonOrbiter (ASMO). This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input from appropriateofficials and decision-makers from colleges, universities, and potential industrycontributors with experience in university-level, student-led flight projects focusing onspaceflight satellite and/or payload development, payload integration, spacecraft and/orpayload launch, mission operations, or scientific data analysis. Information soughtincludes opinion of and experience applicable to the feasibility of the effort (toinclude financial, technical, and educational elements); budget and financialexpectations, realism of launch expectations, and the education and scientific merit. Responses to this RFI will assist NASA Education in determining the level of interest inparticipation, the perceived feasibility of the concept, the ability to provide funding,and implementation concepts or solutions. If a decision is made to proceed with theconcept, information provided by the RFI will assist NASA in establishing requirements,resources, and evaluation criteria.There are many factors and options to be considered prior to NASAs decision to proceedwith this educational venture; and this RFI solicits ideas and feedback on thepreliminary concepts. If NASA decides to proceed with the concept, the next step couldbe the release of a solicitation to attract and select university participants, andidentify scientific and educational objectives.Specific questions to be addressed are listed in Section 5 of this RFI. 2.0MISSION OBJECTIVE AND GOALThe objective of ASMO is to provide NASA project and systems engineering oversight andcoordinated mentoring to selected university student teams who would design, build,launch, operate, and analyze data for a lunar spacecraft and payload. NASA would makeavailable controlled access to NASA engineers and other subject matter experts and mayenable access to appropriate NASA facilities. The university teams would be responsible for (1) direct and detailed project management,(2) design, build, testing, integration, brokering the launch, launch into lunar orbit,and (on-orbit and ground) operation of the ASMO spacecraft, (3) obtaining funding tosupport and manage these activities, and (4) identification, development, and monitoringof educational objectives ( at the elementary/secondary education, higher education, andinformal education levels) and reporting progress toward meeting them.Under the concept, the NASA/ASMO team would offer access to NASA subject matter expertsthrough coordinated mentoring, facilitation of reviews at key decision points, andprovision of one to two university workshops per year at participating NASA Centers.Please see the ASMO website at http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov for further information onhow this might work.The European Space Agency (ESA) has initiated a similar project: the European StudentMoon Orbiter (ESMO). Having progressed into mission Phase A in 2006, ESMO is the latestin a series of end-to-end ESA sponsored student flight projects. Through preliminarydiscussions with NASA Education representatives, ESA representatives have expressedinterest in potential collaboration between the ESMO and AMSO student missions. However,no formal agreement between NASA and ESA has been yet been established regardingpotential collaboration or coordination of the efforts.3.0MISSION DESCRIPTION Payload capacity and parameters for the orbit will be determined by the student teamswith guidance of NASA mentors. Possible payloads and lunar science objectives currentlyof interest to NASA include testing and relaying high bandwidth laser and radiocommunications protocols, characterizing the lunar dust environment, lunar gravitymapping, high-definition video, and 3-D imaging. The final scientific payloads would bedetermined, designed and built by the student teams. The ASMO craft is conceived to be launched on an Enhanced Expendable Launch Vehicle(EELV) utilizing an Expendable Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring. NASA currently hasno plans to provide a launch vehicle or support for the ASMO launch.ITAR Note: All participants in the ASMO concept must ensure compliance with the U.S.Department of Commerces Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the U.S. Departmentof States International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). For more information pleasesee http://www.pmddtc.state.gov 4.0MISSION APPROACH4.1 NASA Would ProvideConcept development and Pre-Phase A project functionsResults of the payload design feasibility study Request for Information to solicit public inputLead university team selectionTop-level project and systems engineering oversight throughout the projectControlled access to NASA mentors and other subject matter experts Up to two university workshops per year at participating NASA CentersFacilitation of design reviews and identification of Key Decision PointsAgency strategic communications including public outreach, education andsolicitationsRoll-up NASA reporting of project progress and accomplishment of educationobjectives, results, and outcomes (elementary/secondary education, higher education, andinformal education)NOTE: NASA does not foresee providing direct funding to the universities or partners.4.2 University Teams Would ProvideLaunch Opportunity including launch vehicle and integration, and insuranceProject Management to include project documentation, documentation control,configuration control, procurement, finance, fundraising, and project communicationSystems EngineeringMission Analysis to include simulations and orbital dynamicsQuality Assurance to include reliability, safety and mission assurance, andfailure modes effects and analysisSpacecraft to include thermal subsystem, structures subsystem, electricalsubsystem, power subsystem, attitude and orbit control subsystem, mechanisms/deployablesubsystem, communications subsystems, registration and ownership of the ASMO spacecraft,including negotiation for orbital positionMission operations and supporting mission-unique hardware and ground activitiesAssembly, Integration and Testing to include spacecraft testing, facilities, andspacecraft integrationPayload and Science Experiments including scientific data collection, transfer,analysis, and reportingGround Segment to include electrical ground support equipment (GSE) andmechanical GSE IT InfrastructureFlight Software including data collection and data transferResponsive reporting of education objectives, results, and outcomes(elementary/secondary education, higher education, and informal education)Other efforts required for successful completion of the ASMO mission4.3 University Team StructureUnder the current concept, a single Level 1 university team and three Level 2 universityteams would be selected by NASA to perform the following leadership roles:Project Lead (Level-1)Business Lead (Level-2)Spacecraft/Systems Engineering Lead (Level-2)Science/Payloads Lead (Level-2)In addition, NASA will select an estimated 30 additional Level 3 student teams to conductall aspects of the design, development, systems engineering and integration, testing, andoperations of the spacecraft and the payload subsystems. The students will be responsiblefor the development and execution of comprehensive project and business managementfunctions.Various alternative approaches have been considered for the ASMO project organization andadministration. For example, proposals could be obtained from university teams biddingfor participation in specific sub-systems resulting in the selection of a prime and asub-prime university team for each sub-system.In this approach NASA would designate asingle university-based project manager, responsible for daily operations and ensuringexecution of major milestones, deliverables, and project documentation. Another approachwould be for universities to build alliances and organize themselves into fully orsemi-comprehensive teams prior to developing their proposals and thus submit pre-packagedteam proposals detailing their unique approach to covering all required subsystems andproject functions across university lines. These alternate approaches are not intended to suggest expectations or requirements onproject management structure. Comments on alternative approaches to the ASMO projectstructure and management approach should be addressed in response to this RFI.4.4 Funding Concept The university project participants would be responsible for costs and financialmanagement for designing, building, testing, and integration of payloads and subsystemsfor the ASMO spacecraft as well as financial support for the launch, insurance, missionoperations, and data collection and analysis. The university participants would also beresponsible for performing detailed cost estimating and developing comprehensive businessand education plans including a realistic budget, a financial control system, andeducation objectives. NASA would support internal Agency costs associated with the services and activitiesdescribed in section 4.1 above. NASAs role in the final system integration and testing using NASAs facilities has notbeen determined. 4.5 Design Feasibility Study of an ASMO-like SpacecraftIn December 2006, a NASA Collaborative Modeling for Parametric Assessment of SpaceSystems (COMPASS) team performed a design feasibility study of the ASMO spacecraftconcept. The preliminary design concept of a spacecraft, generated during the course ofthis study, was intended purely to determine the feasibility of developing a spacecraftand payload under certain technical and cost constraints, and was not intended toinfluence or limit design thinking by the university teams. The COMPASS Study is astarting point from which the ASMO students could then perform their own design conceptand feasibility studies. The American Student Moon Orbiter (ASMO) COMPASS FeasibilityStudy is available on the ASMO website at:http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/files/asmo/ASMO_Docs7/RFI_Documents/COMPASS_Study.pdf 5.0RESPONDING TO THIS RFI5.1 Content of RFI Response This is a Request for Information, not a Request for Proposals (RFP), and it does notimply that a solicitation will be forthcoming.NASA is not accepting proposals or bidsto participate at this time. Please note that there is a 20-page limit for your overall response (please refer to theRFI Response Template available on the ASMO website). Answers to the RFI questions mustbe received on the RFI Response Template provided on the ASMO website:http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/files/asmo/ASMO_Docs7/RFI_Documents/RFI_Response_Template.doc RFI responses must include:a.Name of the primary point of contact for the response b.Academic faculty or business titlec.Institution or organization affiliationd.Email addresse.Phonef.Identification of other key individuals who collaborated on the RFI responseg.A brief summary (300 word limit) description of previous relevant experience insmall spacecraft and subsystem design and engineering, space flight payloads andexperiments, lunar exploration or other lunar expertise. (Note: This is not intended as amini or preliminary proposal.)5.2 RFI QuestionsNASA is requesting responses to the following questions from appropriate officials anddecision-makers from colleges, universities, and potential industry contributors withexperience in university-level, student-led flight projects (focusing on spaceflightsatellite and/or payload development, payload integration, spacecraft and/or payloadlaunch, mission operations, or scientific data analysis):1.What are the advantages and disadvantages to a university-level, student-ledconcept such as this?2.Academic participants will be required to provide funding necessary for design,development, testing, evaluation, integration, launch, operation, and analysis of theASMO spacecraft. NASA would cover the costs of the services described in Section 4.1above.Is this a feasible financial approach?Please explain. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this financial approach? 3.What educational (elementary/secondary education, higher education, and informaleducation) objectives are achievable through a project of this type? Can the objectivesbe assessed, evaluated, and measured throughout the mission development andimplementation process? How can the educational objectives be maximized? 4.What challenges might be addressed by this project that are unique to a lunarmission versus a low-earth orbit mission? Can the challenges be realistically addressed? Please explain.5.What project management approaches are best suited to this effort? (Refer toSection 4.3 of this RFI.) Responses can include diagrams in an Appendix following thebody of the response. (Note: Contents of the Appendix will not be counted in the 20-pagelimit).6.After selection of lead universities, what is the estimated amount of time neededto complete necessary pre-launch tasks and activities and have an ASMO spacecraft readyfor launch? What timelines would you recommend for such a project?7.Do you have any questions or other comments to share about the ASMO concept?5.3 How to Respond to this RFIVisit http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/RFI and download the ASMO RFI Template. Fill out the template with the following guidelines:Completed RFI response must not exceed 20 pages in lengthPlease include diagrams and charts in an Appendix following the body ofthe response. Do not count the appendix against the 20-page limitUse single-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman fontThe following file naming convention should be used: RFI_firstinitial_lastname.docFor example: Angela Rodriguez would name her file RFI_A_Rodriguez.docAuthorized file formats include:Adobe Acrobat versions 6 - 8 (.pdf)Microsoft Word versions 2000 - 2007 (.doc and.docx)Responses are requested by 4:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, September 30, 2008. RFIsubmissions will be accepted as email attachments only. All responses must be sent toasmoRFI@arc.nasa.gov, with ASMO RFI Response in the subject line.An email confirmation of receipt from NASA will be sent within a one-week period to thedesignated point of contact.6.0 RESOURCE MATERIALS:The ASMO Websiteohttp://asmo.arc.nasa.gov RFI and template for responseo http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/files/asmo/ASMO_Docs7/RFI_Documents/RFI_Response_Template.doc NASA Education Strategic Coordination Frameworko http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Strategic_Coordination_Framework.htmlASMO Small Sat 2007 publication: The NASA American Student Moon Orbiter Projecto http://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/files/asmo/ASMO_Docs7/AIAA_2007_Small_Satellite_Conf/ASMO_SmallSat07_Paper.pdf American Student Moon Orbiter (ASMO) Feasibility Studyohttp://asmo.arc.nasa.gov/files/asmo/ASMO_Docs7/RFI_Documents/COMPASS_Study.pdf 7.0 DISCLAIMERNASA will not publicly disclose proprietary information obtained during thissolicitation. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom ofInformation Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent asProprietary or Confidential will be kept confidential. It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is NOTto be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into any contractualagreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Based on theavailability of funding the results of this RFI will be used to advise NASAdecision-making and development of possible follow-on efforts.Follow-on efforts willalso depend on the availability of funding. Respondents will not be notified of theresults of the evaluation. This Request for Information is subject to review orcancellation at any time.
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