NASA Solicits Ideas for International Space Station Research

Jan. 28, 2013

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov

Jenny Knotts
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
norma.j.knotts@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-033

NASA SOLICITS IDEAS FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION RESEARCH

WASHINGTON -- NASA wants to know how you can improve the International
Space Station as a technology test bed.

NASA's International Space Station National Laboratory and Technology
Demonstration offices are asking for proposals on how the space
station may be used to develop advanced or improved exploration
technologies. NASA also is seeking proposals about how new
approaches, technologies and capabilities could improve the unique
laboratory environment of the orbiting outpost.

The NASA Research Announcement, "Soliciting Proposals for Exploration
Technology Demonstration and National Lab Utilization Enhancements,"
may be viewed at:

http://go.nasa.gov/Uqkccz

The annoucement will provide successful proposers access to the space
station's microgravity environment, crew support and robotic
servicing. It closes Sept. 30.

"The space station is a world-class facility and critical to NASA's
plan to extend humanity's presence beyond low-Earth orbit," said
Andrew Clem of the Technology Demonstration Office in the
International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "This is an opportunity for researchers, inventors and
designers to demonstrate a technology needed for future human
spaceflights or to improve an existing space station capability."

NASA will review submissions throughout the year as they are received.
The agency will cover launch and integration costs for selected
proposals. Successful submissions also may be eligible for limited
additional funding.

Proposed technologies should help advance exploration and research
capabilities aboard the space station. Concepts must fit within
existing NASA standards for mass and volume to meet requirements for
current launch vehicles. Suggested areas include in-space propulsion;
space power and energy storage; components of highly reliable,
closed-loop, human health, life support and habitation systems;
thermal systems; robotics, telerobotics, and autonomous systems; and
human exploration destination systems.

Proposals for new exploration technologies could include strategies to
reduce mass, maintenance and power requirements, while also
increasing efficiency, reliability and safety. The idea could be a
new technology or a new, improved use of existing space hardware.
Proposals also may have the potential to yield benefits for humanity,
such as testing a new material or stimulating economic growth.

Alternately, proposers could address improvements to the existing
capabilities of the U.S. National Laboratory, such as new uses for
existing experiment tools and infrastructure aboard the orbiting
outpost, or potential efficiencies like advances in data
communications. Other possibilities include ground equipment for
space studies, in-orbit analytical tools, three-dimensional cell and
tissue culture hardware, or improvements or new uses for existing
station research resources.

The enhancements sought in this announcement will further efforts by
the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space to promote
research aboard the station's U.S. National Laboratory.

For assistance with responding to the announcement, visit the
Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Research Announcement or
Cooperative Agreements Notice at:

http://go.nasa.gov/W3HlSe

For more information on the International Space Station and its
research, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station/


-end-



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