The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is hereby seeking information from all interested US domestic entities having an interest in the operation and utilization of the Astrobee free-flying robotic system aboard the International Space Station (ISS). These robots provide a capability supporting astronauts and researchers with technology demonstrations, scientific research, and STEM activities in the unique environment of space. NASA is interested in transitioning operation and utilization of this Astrobee robotic technology to other users who would be interested in managing it to further NASA’s mission to enable commercial and/or research activities in low Earth orbit. This is a Request for Information (RFI) and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take action in this matter. This RFI is limited to U.S. government, U.S. academic institutions and U.S. commercial entities. All interested parties having an interest in this opportunity are invited to provide feedback as described in this Request for Information (RFI). Background The Astrobee system consists of three cubed-shaped robots, software, and a docking station used for recharging. The robots use electric fans as a propulsion system that allows them to fly freely through the microgravity environment of the station. Cameras and sensors help them to “see” and navigate their surroundings. The robots also carry a perching arm that allows them to grasp station handrails in order to conserve energy or to grab and hold items. Working autonomously or via remote control by astronauts, flight controllers, or researchers on the ground, the robots are designed to complete tasks such as taking inventory, documenting experiments conducted by astronauts with their built-in cameras or working together to move cargo throughout the station. In addition, the system serves as a research platform that can be outfitted and programmed to carry out experiments in microgravity – helping us to learn more about how robotics can benefit astronauts in space. More information about the Astrobee system and its capabilities can be found in the Executive Summary (Attachment 1) and on NASA’s Astrobee homepage here: https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee/ The Astrobees have operated for 5 years with only twice needing to be returned for repairs. One of those repairs was limited to SD cards replacement and the other required board replacement. Since Astrobee still has at least 2 spares of each board, it is expected that the Astrobee units will be serviceable well past 2030. The Astrobee software continues to be updated and is also expected to be maintainable past 2030. The current Astrobee Facility project is operated through the NASA Ames Research Center. NASA has multiple ground assets that include the Granite lab and Communications Relay Server located at the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) and the NASA Ames Granite Lab located at the Ames Research Center. There is a dock and two Astrobees in the Granite lab. The dock is mounted to the wall and connected to power and a wired LAN. Both the wired LAN and wireless LAN are setup to replicate the ISS JSL network. Ames capability also includes the Astrobee Relay Server, a set of redundant Linux server’s setup at the HOSC to facilitate data uplink/downlink before and after an activity, commanding, and telemetry data links during an ISS activity. A DDS network gateway application is also running on the server to facilitate the real-time commanding and telemetry to user operated ground control stations. The Astrobee facilities and capabilities in place would be available should interested parties choose to enter into separate agreement for its use. In addition, NASA has expertise within the agency that was directly involved with the initial development, build, testing, and commissioning of the Astrobee hardware beginning in 2014. Purpose The International Space Station Transition Plan laid out NASA’s vision for the next decade of the microgravity laboratory that is returning enormous scientific, educational, and technological developments to benefit people on Earth, and enabling our ability to travel into deep space. In the future, the United States plans to transition its operations in low Earth orbit to commercially-owned and -operated destinations to ensure continued access to essential research and technology development. NASA is interested in transitioning operation and utilization of this Astrobee robotic technology to other users who would be interested in managing it to further NASA’s mission to enable commercial and/or research activities in low Earth orbit. NASA anticipates capabilities such as those presented by the Astrobee program will evolve to support those activities. The Astrobee robots will remain NASA property and it is contemplated that NASA could enter into an unfunded Space Act Agreement with an U.S. entity to provide access to and facilitate operation and use of the Astrobee system. Government resources provided could include the Astrobee hardware, spares, on-orbit stowage, documentation, and safety certifications, based on need. Interested Parties would be required to accept responsibility for the cost of planning, use, and sustaining of the on-orbit Astrobee assets, as well as any supporting ground test and training facilities. Services and support a potential SAA partner would be asked to provide could include: Hardware maintenance (HW) ISS & ground Astrobee hardware Inventory tracking Software maintenance (SW) updates, licenses, configuration management Lab maintenance (Lab) Flight Assembly lab, Operations workstations, Granite testing lab, Micro-Gravity Test Facility (MGTF), lab workstations materials: CO2, Raw building materials, tools Operations (Ops) Readiness testing and anomaly resolution in support of facility capabilities Closure plans of on-orbit anomalies will be provided within a week of occurrence Services NASA may be willing to provide to a SAA partner, at no cost, could include: User community support (Comm) System documentation, working group meetings, conferences, public outreach Assessment and technology demonstration (Assess) initial payload assessments, ground-only technology demonstration support (e.g. NASA-STMD funded SBIR's and Grants) Integration, safety, and verification (Integration) Interface and user training (Interface) Lab testing (Lab) Hardware/Software/Network interface testing Operational Readiness Testing (ORT) Test Reporting Ops planning (Planning) procedures, crew training, increment scheduling Ops activities (Ops) Data distribution Information Requested Parties interested in this opportunity described herein should submit a statement of no more than 10 pages addressing the following: 1. Company name, point of contact name, phone number, e-mail address. 2. Overview of the organization's experience in robotics, space operations, and/or scientific research. 3. If applicable, past experience operating Astrobee or similar assets on the ISS, including mission planning and execution. 4. Potential usage or activities utilizing Astrobee on-board ISS All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to
[email protected] and
[email protected] using the subject line: “Astrobee RFI Response” no later than 12:00 pm CST September 27, 2024. The Government intends to review the responses submitted, but will not respond to individual submissions. NASA reserves the right to share all information received in response to this RFI with any of NASA's civil servants and to use all information submitted in response to this RFI in developing any future competitive announcements. This data will not be shared outside the Government nor released in its submitted form. Confidential, proprietary, competition sensitive, or business information should not be submitted in response to this RFI. Such information will not be reviewed and will be returned to the respondent. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.