A -- NASA/GRC REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS APPLICABLE FOR DIRECT (D2U) SERVICES

Notice Date

March 12, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

ZIP Code

44135

E-Mail Address

Clifford H. Arth (carth@grc.nasa.gov)

Description

The NASA/GRC Space Communications Program (SCP) is developing microwave and digital technologies that will eventually enable direct-to-User (d2u) data services between experimental facilities aboard NASA LEO spacecraft and science users located on the ground. D2u services will facilitate the transmission of latency tolerant data from LEO to the ground-based users at extremely high data rates. End users would receive their data directly by ground terminals co-located with the user or indirectly via the Internet from ground terminals located at NASA field centers or commercial satellite gateways. In order to enable d2u services, GRC is interested in evaluating the readiness of commercial products deemed necessary to provide d2u services: a)Single-beam and multiple-beam phased array antennas, operational within the government or commercial Ka-Band space-to-Earth/Earth-to-space frequency allocations. b)Advanced modulators and demodulators that incorporate bandwidth and power efficient modulation and coding schemes to enable aggregate data transfer rates of at least 622 Mbps, with spectral efficiencies of greater than 2 bits per second per Hertz using either 8-ary or 16-ary modulation schemes with coding. c)Low cost, innovative tracking ground terminal technologies for autonomous tracking of LEO spacecraft. d)High speed digital storage technology devices for both space-based and ground-based applications with common data interfaces. e)Internet protocol (IP) based network technologies to enable seamless IP-based instrument command and data delivery. GRC invites commercial providers with relevant, reasonably mature technology products (i.e. built, demonstrated, and tested to a sufficient degree in a relevant environment) associated with one or more of the areas outlined above, to provide GRC with technical information for evaluation purposes. GRC is especially interested in providers who would be willing to enter into partnership agreements with the government for the purpose of evaluation and demonstration of their technology products in d2u prototype and protoflight systems. Responders should provide information to the SCP contact Cliff Arth at (216) or email carth@grc.nasa.gov, until 4/12/01.

Web Link

Click here for the latest information about this notice (http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=22#RFI-d2u)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010314/SPMSC090.HTM (D-071 SN50F966)