Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Opportunites

Description

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation, titled Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Opportunities, as an appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021), on July 22, 2021. The solicitation is available by opening the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/, selecting "Solicitations" then selecting "Open" and, finally, selecting "Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Opportunities." The goal of LuSTR, part of the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), is to accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies that support and enable lunar surface activities to be conducted under Artemis - the core of NASA’s exploration and human spaceflight plans for the next decade. As part of the LSII portfolio, LuSTR solicits ideas from universities that can be integrated into Artemis’ sequence of missions that start with the near-term development of enabling infrastructure and lay the foundation for a sustained human and robotic presence. Only accredited U.S. universities are eligible to submit proposals. Teaming is permitted - see solicitation for complete eligibility requirements as well as teaming restrictions. A PI (see solicitation for restrictions) or Co-I may participate in no more than two proposals in response to this appendix. NASA encourages submission of LuSTR proposals on behalf of women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities. The LuSTR Appendix exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to two LSII focus areas: Extreme Environments and Excavation and Construction. Under these focus areas, LuSTR solicits proposals in response to the following four topics: Autonomous Systems for Excavation and Site Preparation Lunar Regolith Mineral Beneficiation Cold-Temperature Analog Integrated Circuits Novel Heat Transfer Fluids NASA anticipates featuring additional topics, including those in other LSII focus areas, in future Appendix releases. The financial and programmatic support for LuSTR comes from the Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate. The STRG Program within STMD is fostering the development of innovative technologies for advanced space systems. Awards are planned to start in May 2022. NASA plans to make up to 4 awards as a result of this LuSTR solicitation. Total budgets are expected to range between $1M and $2M per award, depending on the scope of the proposed project. NASA reserves the right to make no awards under this solicitation or exceed 4, subject to the receipt of meritorious proposals and the availability of funds. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) by an authorized organizational representative. Notices of Intent (strongly encouraged) are due by August 20, 2021 with proposals due on or before September 17, 2021, 5 pm Eastern. Detailed submission instructions and due dates are provided in the solicitation. Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission system(s), ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal materials well in advance of the deadline. Technical and programmatic comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to the solicitation mailbox, hq-LuSTR@mail.nasa.gov. Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.

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