B -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ON HUMAN/ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Notice Date

July 25, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 555-A 14th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

ZIP Code

30318

Response Due

September 24, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. Robert A. Cassanova, NIAC Director, (404) 347-9633, Fax: (404) 347-9638, E-Mail: bcass@niac.usra.edu.

E-Mail Address

NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (bcass@niac.usra.edu)

Description

Request for Information (RFI) Human/Robotic Exploration of the Solar System, due September 24, 2001. The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is requesting information related to advanced concepts and technologies for the "Human/Robotic Exploration of the Solar System." Information received through this RFI will be utilized in exploration technology planning studies funded by the NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) activity led by the NASA Langley Research Center. Background -- With the exception of the Apollo Program, exploration beyond Earth's orbit has been achieved primarily with robotic spacecraft. The systems deployed at the destination are the instruments through which humans, across time and distance, extract scientific information. This information, along with direct and indirect investigation, has begun to provide the knowledge necessary to understand the environment including past and present processes active in our solar system. Scientific investigations are significantly enhanced by an aggressive, on-site partnership between humans and robots. At this time, NASA recognizes the need to examine revolutionary concepts and technologies to further enhance the symbiotic relationship between humans and their robotic partners. Through investigation of revolutionary approaches, NASA will enhance the development of capabilities for systematic, affordable and safe expansion of humans beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These revolutionary capabilities will support NASA's long-range goal of enabling humans to "go anywhere at anytime" to extraterrestrial destinations. Such an investment in revolutionary concepts and technologies requires an understanding of the ways humans and machines can synergistically be combined to enhance or accelerate the science return from NASA programs and assets. This understanding will be achieved through the collaborative efforts of industry, government and academia to determine the optimal working relationship between autonomous and crewed systems and to understand how this relationship changes over time. The scope of this RFI includes both planetary science and "in-space" platform science applications beyond LEO for the timeframe of 10 to 40 years into the future. Specific information on human/robotic exploration is sought regarding: (1) advanced revolutionary systems concepts, (2) identification of required technologies to enable these capabilities, (3) an evaluation of the evolution of the relative roles of humans and machines to implement these concepts, and (4) an identification of the science that would be enabled by these capabilities. Reference information regarding NASA's long-term Science Goals and related studies on human-enabled science may be found at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/reports/CB-1089/CB-1089.intro.html http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/reports/CB-968/CB-968.intro.html http://www.nasa.gov. Information Request -- USRA, through two of its institutes (NIAC and ICASE),is requesting information to support NASA technology planning activities for the "Human/Robotic Exploration of the Solar System." The primary emphasis of this RFI is to identify new, innovative and potentially revolutionary systems concepts and technologies that could significantly impact the synergistic operation of humans and robots in the space environment beyond LEO and identify the enhanced science that would be enabled by these capabilities. The output of this study may lead to opportunities for potential NASA/university/industry collaboration under the ongoing NASA RASC activity. Information submitted in response to this request will be compiled and briefed in synopsis form at an upcoming workshop hosted by ICASE at the NASA Langley Research Center, November 6-7, 2001. These briefings will be structured to stimulate vigorous discussion and feedback from the attendees. Information about the workshop for Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts for Human/Robotic Exploration of the Solar System can be found at: http://www.icase.edu/workshops/hress01.html. Submission of Information -- Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically in Portable Document Format (PDF) and delivered via email to the following address: human.robotics@niac.usra.edu. Information regarding PDF files is located at http://www.adobe.com. No other electronic file format will be accepted. Paper submissions will not be accepted. The file size limit is 500KB including up to ten (10) pages of text plus references and graphics. One of the ten pages of text should be a one page, bulletized synopsis suitable for presentation. Authors are encouraged to use appropriate graphics to enhance and clarify the information being submitted. The due date for responses to this RFI is September 24, 2001. Points of Contact -- Implementation questions should be addressed to: human.robotics@niac.usra.edu or to one of the following points of contact: Dr. Robert A. Cassanova, Director, NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Telephone: (404) 347-9633, Email: bcass@niac.usra.edu; Dr. Josip Loncaric, Research Fellow, ICASE, Telephone: (757) 864-2192, Email: josip@icase.edu; Lewis Peach, Chief Engineer, USRA, Telephone: (410) 730-2656, Email: peach@hq.usra.edu.

Web Link

NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (http://www.niac.usra.edu)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010727/BSOL012.HTM (W-206 SN50S9J6)