NASA seeks research proposals for space technologies to flight test

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate's Flight Opportunities program is seeking research proposals for promising space technologies that benefit future NASA space exploration missions. Selected technologies from industry and academia will be flight-tested on commercial suborbital launch vehicles, reduced gravity aircraft and high-altitude balloon flights.

The Flight Opportunities program strategically invests in the growth of the commercial spaceflight market while helping advance technologies that will enable future missions for science and exploration.

The program is investing in flight tests that take technologies from the laboratory to a relevant flight environment, which facilitates technology maturation, validates feasibility and reduces technical risks.

These investments enable infusion of key exploration technologies into multiple future space missions. The proposer's organization will directly purchase the proposed flight(s) from flight providers on currently available U.S. commercial platforms of the proposer's choice.

Proposals are due on or before June 8, 2018, and selections will be announced in November 2018 (target). Potential proposers and organizations should access the electronic proposal system well in advance of the proposal due date to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information.

Every organization that intends to submit a proposal must be registered with the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal.

Technical, programmatic, and procurement comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to [email protected]. Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions document located on the NSPIRES page. The anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.

The Flight Opportunities program is funded by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington and managed at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the solicitation and selection of technologies to be tested and demonstrated on commercial flight vehicles.