Small Satellite Hyperspectral Imaging Mission Concepts for the NASA Earth System Observatory

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center (ARC) is hereby soliciting information from potential sources for Small Satellite Hyperspectral Imaging Mission Concepts for the NASA Earth System Observatory. Information is solicited regarding interest, concepts, and cost for a hyperspectral imaging small satellite to fly in a constellation as part of the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) Mission. NASA ARC is seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including all socioeconomic categories of Small Businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI), and members of the underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, for the purposes of determining the appropriate level of competition and/or small business subcontracting goals for Small Satellite Hyperspectral Imaging Mission Concepts for the NASA Earth System Observatory. The Government reserves the right to consider a Small, 8(a), Women-owned (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran (SD-VOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or HUBZone business set-aside based on responses received. 1. Mission Background : The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conduct decadal surveys that “thoroughly sample the research interests, aspirations, and needs of the scientific community. Through a rigorous process, a primary survey committee and thematic panels of community members construct a prioritized program of science goals and objectives and define an executable strategy for achieving them. These reports play a critical role in defining the nation’s agenda in that science area for the following 10 years.” The second decadal survey in Earth Science and Applications from Space (ESAS 2017) was completed in 2017 and the final report “Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space” was issued. The survey’s overarching task was to generate “recommendations for the environmental monitoring and Earth science and applications communities for an integrated and sustainable approach to the conduct of the U.S. government’s civilian space-based Earth-system science programs.” The interpretation of this charge resulted in recommendations that would, within known constraints such as anticipated budgets, advance Earth system science and deliver critical information to support a broad range of national economic and societal needs. For additional information see: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DEPS/ESAS2017/index.htm. SBG was one of five high value observables recommended in ESAS 2017. SBG will form part of the core of the future NASA Earth System Observatory (https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/earth-system-observatory) that will enable improved measurements of Earth’s surface and provide valuable information on a wide range of Earth System processes. SBG will specifically target surface biology and geology, functional traits of terrestrial vegetation and inland and near-coastal aquatic ecosystems, active geologic processes, ground and water temperature, gross primary production (GPP), and snow spectral albedo. NASA has issued authorization to proceed to pre-Phase A planning for SBG mission as part of the core of the Earth System Observatory. As part of the mission, NASA has directed a study of options for commercial hyperspectral imaging constellations, from which at least the first spacecraft must launch coincident in time with the primary mission (no earlier than 2026). The small satellite constellations will play a key role in future affordable continuity measurements and have the following challenges: Inter-calibration and validation Data downlink and timely processing Stability performance of the instrument Approach to Sparing (launch extra constellation elements) NASA will use the responses to this RFI to evaluate commercial interest in providing a small satellite spacecraft to carry a VSWIR instrument which may form part of the SBG constellation and generate data for scientific use. Scientific details on the SBG observable can be found at the following sites: Decadal Survey Overview ( https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/decadal-surveys ), Jet Propulsion Lab SBG (http://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov), and Jet Propulsion Lab Science and Applications Traceability Matrix (SATM) (http://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/satm). 2. Summary : NASA ARC is seeking information under this Request for Information (RFI) to assess interest, concepts, and rough order of magnitude (ROM) costs for a Visible to Short Wavelength InfraRed (VSWIR)-instrumented small satellite mission to accompany the SBG VSWIR spacecraft. This mission will be undertaken to determine how VSWIR instrumented small satellites with high and stable spectral performance, high-level resolution, frequent revisit, and inter-instrument consistency that meet one or more of the SBG required capabilities as described in SATM ( https://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/satm/SBG_SATM_Release_20200303.xlsx/view ) could be used to generate seamless time series maps from a sequence of individual spacecraft. VSWIR instruments are not solicited in this RFI. Respondents with an instrument concept should respond to the VSWIR instrument concept RFI, DDC-2671-VSWIR Pathfinder ( https://sam.gov/opp/6c125301f7274b1ab2a59ea483c0099c/view ). Respondents with both a mission concept and an instrument concept should respond to each RFI separately. 3. Information Requested : This RFI is limited to concepts that will permit cross-calibration with the SBG VSWIR Imaging Spectroscopy (VSWIR-IS) satellite envisioned to launch in the 2027-2028 timeframe as part of the SBG constellation. Responses to this RFI should include : a. Organization information : Organization name and address Point of contact name, e-mail address, phone number DUNS number or Cage Code Information on partner organizations if this will be a partnership of organizations. b. Description of the spacecraft or mission concept , including, as applicable and available, Spacecraft design (including, but not limited to, payload mass it supports, delta-V, pointing accuracy etc.) Orbit design, including “access to space” approach and launch options Communication architecture, including expected duty cycle and data delivery Tasking, scheduling, and control System development timeline Pre- and post-launch geometric calibration scheme, including description of absolute geo-location traceability approaches, expected geolocation uncertainties, and techniques for placing the system on a map coordinate If applicable, new technology needed and associated current and expected technology readiness levels (TRLs) Block build capabilities and approach - capabilities and strategy for building multiple affordable copies of spacecraft and integration of instrument suite Assumptions about instrument size, weight, power, and data rate/data compression c. Relevance to the Mission : Relevance of the concept to the science requirements (http://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/satm) of the SBG mission. d. Data Processing and Synthesis : Note any cloud-oriented architectures supporting the distribution and processing of the data collected by the instrumentation, and the ability to connect or integrate with High Performance Computing (HPC) partners or existing HPC centers. Describe any data-driven processing capabilities needed to support low-latency data processing and cal/val activities. e. Risks and assumptions : Main technical and programmatic risks to the spacecraft or mission concept, as well as suggested mitigations. If providing information resulting from current spacecraft or mission investments : f. Description of the spacecraft , including, as applicable: Description and status of the spacecraft or spacecraft constellation that generated/will generate data. Key performance specifications of the spacecraft or the constellation If the constellation is not operational now, main technical and programmatic risks to its success, as well as mitigations. In all cases : g. Cost Estimate : A ROM cost for the concept, including phases A-F (e.g., development, fabrication, I&T, launch, operations, data processing, and calibration/validation with the SBG constellation VSWIR). h. Technical or Policy barriers : Identified technical or policy barriers (e.g., NASA’s open data policy as it pertains to commercially sensitive ancillary data needed to generate and validate science data products, encryption, orbit debris) No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Interested firms having the required capabilities necessary to meet the above requirement described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than fifteen (15) pages indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort as described under Section 3. Please advise if the requirement is considered to be a commercial or commercial-type product. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101. Additionally, in support of the Executive Order (EO) 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, NASA is seeking to advance equity or remove barriers for members of underserved communities related to this requirement. As defined in the EO, Underserved Communities refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of "equity." Equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. NASA seeks input in the following areas: 1. To support the requirements identified in this request for information (RFI)/sources sought notification, what barriers or opportunities exist to engage subject matter experts from industry and academia and how can those barriers be overcome? How can underserved communities be leveraged? 2. To support the requirements identified in this RFI, what barriers or opportunities exist to partner with subcontractors that employ members of underserved communities, as defined above? 3. What other recommendations would you make to enhance diversity and inclusion? 4. What should be considered to encourage full participation and contribution of organizations and individuals (e.g., outreach efforts and innovative partnerships) in performance of this requirement? All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to Karen Klaas, [email protected] no later than September 3, 2021 5pm Pacific Daylight Time. Please reference “RFI-80ARC022-SBG-Mission Concepts” in any response. 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.