Investigating irregular vertical structures at the edges of saturn's a and b rings
Active Grant For Research Awarded Last action
- Contract number
- 80NSSC23K0220
- Awardee
-
Seti Institute UEI WKAUE7NHR4L1
- Awarding agency
-
Shared Services Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Obligated
- $628,768
Award facts
- Contract value 100% obligated
- $628,768.00 Current and potential, with all options
- Completion date 96% complete
- Current and potential, with all options
- Contracting staff
- NAICS code
- Not on record
- PSC
- AJ11 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Basic Research
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
- Competition
- Full and Open Competition Basic Research
- Pricing
- Other
- Place of performance
- Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Award details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
Transactions
| Action | Obligated | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Funding Only Action | $190,246 | |
| Funding Only Action | $211,680 | |
| Original award | $226,842 |
About this award
The SETI Institute, a non-profit scientific research organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, was awarded a $628,768 research grant by NASA (through its Shared Services Center) on January 1, 2023, to investigate irregular vertical structures discovered at the edges of Saturn's A and B rings. The award, with an ultimate completion date of December 31, 2026, supports research that enhances the scientific return of the Cassini mission by analyzing imaging observations and their relationship to Saturn's ring properties and embedded satellites. This grant was awarded without a set-aside designation, reflecting selection based on scientific merit and technical expertise.
The research initiative represents the first comprehensive investigation into the dynamics driving irregular vertical structures observed near Saturn's ring edges during the 2009 equinox. The SETI Institute will analyze additional Cassini images and perform computer simulations to test the hypothesis that these structures originate from granular dynamics as ring particles become densely packed and compressed, forcing particles to roll over one another or launch onto inclined orbits. This work is particularly significant for the Cassini Data Analysis Program, as it will advance understanding of the complex ring edge dynamics influenced by unseen moonlets, multiple normal modes, and the high surface density of the B ring, thereby contributing to broader knowledge of how planetary rings are maintained and sculpted.
Quick answers
Who was awarded contract 80NSSC23K0220?
80NSSC23K0220 was awarded to Seti Institute by Shared Services Center (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on January 1, 2023.
How much is contract 80NSSC23K0220 worth?
The government has obligated $628,768 on 80NSSC23K0220.
Was contract 80NSSC23K0220 competed?
The extent of competition for 80NSSC23K0220 was full and open competition.
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