AXIS POD Amendment.pdf

Partnership Opportunity Document (POD)

For

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Partnerships for AXIS X-ray Mirror Assembly Development

November 2024

1. Introduction and Scope

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), as part of its core function of implementing future space science missions, seeks partnerships with industry to build an X-ray telescope for AXIS (Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite), a potential future astrophysics mission. This telescope consists of two major components: an X-ray mirror assembly (XMA) that focuses X-rays, and a detector system that records them. This POD pertains only to the building and testing of the mirror assembly.

AXIS was recently selected for a Phase A study through the Astrophysics Probe Explorer (APEX) solicitation NNH23ZDA021O (https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-establishes-new-class-of-astrophysics-missions-selects-studies/). More information on APEX can be found at https://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2023APPROBE/. More information on AXIS can be found at (https://axis.astro.umd.edu).

The principal advance that AXIS will make over current and prior X-ray observatories is that it will combine high angular resolution (1.5” at the optical axis) with a large effective collecting area. This requires new technology. The construction and performance of current and previous NASA X-ray telescopes shows that, for the purpose of mission design, X-ray mirror assemblies can be characterized with three key metrics: (1) angular resolution, (2) mass per mirror surface area, which is proportional to the effective area, and (3) production cost per mirror surface area.

Einstein’s (1979) and Chandra’s (1999) mirror assemblies were made by grinding and polishing thick substrates, achieving exquisite (<1”) angular resolution at the expense of mass and cost. NuSTAR (2012) and XRISM (2023) used replication technologies and segmented mirror assemblies, achieving moderate (>60”) angular resolution at very low mass and low cost.

AXIS baselines mirror technology currently under development by the Next Generation X-ray Optics team (NGXO) at GSFC to achieve high angular resolution at low mass and low cost per mirror surface area. NGXO mirrors achieve high angular resolution through modern direct-fabrication techniques (grinding and polishing). They achieve low mass by using single-crystal silicon material, whose lack of internal stress allows post-fabrication lightweighting by grinding the mirror backside. Finally, the mirrors achieve low cost per unit area by combining a hierarchical and modular mirror-assembly design with a fabrication method optimized for mass production.

The purpose of this POD is to select industry partner(s) with experience in the design, manufacture, assembly, test and delivery of precision optics to co-develop a manufacturable XMA architecture with the NASA AXIS team, including:

1) Participate in overall systems engineering for the XMA, including all aspects of the SE process, including XMA requirements development, validation planning and associated analysis, verification planning and associated test and facility specification and product transition of the XMA for observatory integration.

2) Participate in the Phase A study to work with the NASA AXIS team to improve NGXO mirror segment production and module integration techniques, formulate plans to manufacture the XMA, and estimate the cost and schedule for manufacturing the XMA.

2. Requirements

Selected partners shall join the team in one or more of the roles described here and over the AXIS project lifecycle produce an X-ray mirror assembly.

More detailed information will be available to those responding with a Notice of Interest (NOI) via a Technical Package. A Notice of Interest does not obligate an organization to provide a POD response.

The XMA is cylindrical with 9 concentric rings of mirror modules, each containing multiple segments, aligned and assembled in a “spider” structure that holds the XMA together. The XMA also includes active and passive thermal control, electrical harness, and an interface to the rest of the observatory. As it relates to the segments and modules, the XMA will require:

Quantity Value Number of flight mirror segments, including spares

16,000

Number of flight mirror modules, including spares

Segment Size 100 x 100 x 0.8 mm Number of unique segment prescriptions 540 Number of unique module designs 9 (each module in a ring is identical) Segment spacing in modules 4 mm Number of Segments per Module 18-30 XMA inner and outer diameter 0.3m, 1.8m

2.1 XMA Systems Engineering Role

The organization(s) performing this role becomes part of the XMA Systems Engineering Team (XMA SET) and participates in the over-all architecture definition of the XMA, the validation and verification of the entire XMA system, and the validation and verification of the AXIS Observatory.

The XMA Systems Engineering Team will establish plans which span the entire AXIS lifecycle and address the XMA Architecture Definition, as well as its realization. These plans will explicitly address the suitability of the XMA to meet performance requirements (ex: point spread function, ability to survive launch and perform over the mission lifetime, etc.) as well as manufacturability requirements (ability to scale-up of facilities and qualified personnel to meet the production need, manufacturing yield and facility capability, etc.)

With this solicitation, NASA is seeking industry partners with demonstrated success with precision optics, preferably X-ray optics, technology and Space Telescope design and build.

2.2 XMA Mirror Segments Provider Role

Mirror segment providers shall, as AXIS team members, be responsible for:

1. A plan to manufacture about 16,000 flight-quality mirror segments using technology developed by the NGXO, and to deliver these segments to the Mirror Module Providers.

2. Developing a cost and schedule for this plan.

3. Optimizing the technical and programmatic approach to building the XMA.

4. Demonstrating the ability to prepare and equip the production facility for the segments at required scale and pace.

5. Demonstrating the ability to recruit, hire, and train the high number of skilled technical personnel who will be required to operate the facility for the segment production at the required scale and pace.

6. Contributing to relevant portions of the Concept Study Report.

7. Participating in the review of the Concept Study Report and Site Visit.

8. Upon selection for implementation, manufacturing about 16,000 flight-quality mirror segments according to the production plan.

The Government’s segment design, current manufacturing process, and nominal schedule will be provided to those responding with a NOI.

Mirror segment providers are encouraged to offer improvements and innovations to any step in the mirror fabrication process, or to the overall workflow, that will result in performance, mass, cost, or schedule benefits.

2.3 XMA Mirror Module Provider Role

Mirror module providers shall, as AXIS team members, be responsible for:

1. A plan to manufacture about 260 flight-quality mirror modules using segments delivered by the Mirror segment providers and technology developed by the NGXO, and to deliver these segments for acceptance testing at GSFC.

2. Developing a cost and schedule for this plan.

3. Optimizing the technical and programmatic approach to building the XMA.

4. Demonstrating the ability to prepare and equip the production facility for the modules at required scale and pace.

5. Demonstrating the ability to recruit, hire, and train the high number of skilled technical personnel who will be required to operate the facility for the module production at the required scale and pace.

6. Contributing to relevant portions of the Concept Study Report.

7. Participating in the review of the Concept Study Report and Site Visit.

8. Upon selection for implementation, manufacturing about 260 flight-quality mirror modules according to the production plan.

The Government’s module design, current manufacturing process, and nominal schedule will be provided to those responding with a NOI.

Mirror module providers are encouraged to offer improvements and innovations to any step in the module fabrication process, or to the overall workflow, that will result in performance, mass, cost, or schedule benefits.

3. Pre-Selection Support (To be performed in Phase A)

It is expected that the selected partners will provide support using their own resources to help develop the CSR in response to the 2023 APEX AO. During Phase A, partners will engage in the following activities:

3.1: XMA Systems Engineering

Selected partners for this role will join the XMA SET, which will leverage all partners to establish an XMA Architecture at all levels. This XMA Architecture shall be validated, ensuring performance to meet the AXIS science needs and that it is implementable. The XMA SET will participate in the development and implementation planning for XMA design, validation, verification, XMA realization and XMA transition to the Observatory.

The resulting XMA Systems Engineering activities will serve as the foundation on which the production process (at all levels of the XMA Systems) will be designed and implemented. The XMA SET will help establish the XMA production plan that must encompass the mass production of subsystem elements [i.e. segments] and assemblies [i.e. modules], as well as integration into the XMA and subsequent integration into the AXIS Observatory. The Phase A Concept Study Report will leverage this work to demonstrate the viability of the X-Ray Mirror Assembly for technical performance and production viability.

3.2: Mirror Segments

Selected partners shall work as part of the AXIS team to optimize the technical and programmatic approach to building the XMA, establish a segment Production Plan that includes a robust cost and schedule, document this plan and contribute to the CSR as it relates to mirror segments, and support the AXIS project during the CSR review and the Site Visit. More specific outcomes include:

Selected partners shall actively participate in meetings with AXIS team members and NGXO team members to adapt the Government’s segment technology workflow to mass production.

Selected partners shall establish a segment Production Plan that produces sufficient flight-quality segments at the time and cadence needed to support parallel module production.

Selected partners shall produce a cost and schedule for the segment Production Plan.

Selected partners shall prepare CSR content demonstrating the ability to prepare and equip the production facility for the segments at required scale and pace.

Selected partners shall prepare CSR content demonstrating the ability to recruit, hire, and train the high number of skilled technical personnel who will be required to operate the facility for the segment production at the required scale and pace.

Selected partners shall contribute to the CSR as it relates to segment technology; the segment production plan; the cost and schedule of this plan, including the basis of estimates;

management of this plan, including risk mitigation; and relevant experience.

Selected partners shall support relevant pre-submission reviews (such as a schedule review or red team review)

3.3: Mirror Modules

Selected partners shall work as part of the AXIS team to optimize the technical and programmatic approach to building the XMA, establish a module Production Plan that includes a robust cost and schedule, document this plan and contribute to the CSR as it relates to mirror modules, and support the AXIS project during the CSR review and the Site Visit. More specific outcomes include:

Selected partners shall actively participate in meetings with AXIS team members and NGXO team members to adapt the Government’s module technology workflow to industrial production.

Selected partners shall establish a module Production Plan that incorporates segments received from the Mirror Segment Providers and produces flight-quality modules at the time and cadence needed to support module acceptance testing and integration into the XMA.

Selected partners shall produce a cost and schedule for the module Production Plan.

Selected partners shall prepare CSR content demonstrating the ability to prepare and equip the production facility for the modules at required scale and pace.

Selected partners shall prepare CSR content demonstrating the ability to recruit, hire, and train the high number of skilled technical personnel who will be required to operate the facility for the module production at the required scale and pace.

Selected partners shall contribute to the CSR as it relates to the module technology; the module production plan; the cost and schedule of this plan, including the basis of estimates;

management of this plan, including risk mitigation; and relevant experience.

Selected partners shall support relevant pre-submission reviews (such as a schedule review or red team review)

4. Competitive Phase A Support AXIS was selected for a competitive Phase A to begin November 14, 2024. Required support is detailed in Section 3.

5. POD Response Guidance

Potential respondents may respond to fill any or all roles outlined above. Potential respondents are asked to contact the GSFC Point of Contact listed below as soon as possible after release of this document with a Notice of Interest. This contact does not create an obligation to respond to the POD but allows GSFC to enable a mechanism for managing questions and answers to all respondents, should such interaction be necessary. All Notice of Interest respondents will receive a Technical Package with further details that will facilitate a focused response. These details are competition sensitive and not to be shared outside the respondent organization necessary to prepare a full response.

All questions and answers will be sent to all those who responded to the Notice of Interest, while the source of the questions shall be held confidential. Questions and answers that contain information unique to a respondent’s proprietary approach will not be shared if they are identified as such. Questions can be sent to the Point of Contact listed below via email. For purposes of this partnership opportunity, the primary contact is:

POC: Dave Richardson, david.h.richardson@nasa.gov

Backup POC: Gerard Daelemans, gerard.j.daelemans@nasa.gov

Responses will be treated as proprietary information and controlled as such.

There will be a virtual pre-submission conference on Monday, November 18, 2024. All potential respondents who have submitted a Notice of Interest will receive information about this conference.

Final presentation packages must be received by 1600 EST on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

Presentations are to be delivered electronically at the above POC email addresses.

Following receipt of respondents proposal package NASA/GSFC will set up teleconferences with each respondent for oral presentation and questions and answers. The timeline of these teleconferences is expected to be the 1-2 weeks after the response deadline date.

Partnership selection is expected to be made 1-2 weeks week after final presentations. NASA GSFC reserves the option to NOT select any teaming partners under this POD offering based on materials received.

All respondents to this POD will be offered an informal debrief after final selection.

Responses to this POD shall conform to the following requirements:

5.1 XMA Systems Engineering Requirements

Submit material document not to exceed 10 pages. The font size for the text shall be no smaller than 12 point. File format should be PDF. The presentation should address the following:

a) Demonstrate flight experience in the systems engineering, design, fabrication, integration and testing of space qualified hardware, specifically regarding precision optics. If applicable, highlight specific experience with X-ray optics.

b) Identify any pertinent missions for which the respondent has provided engineering support for proposal writing, specifically regarding precision X-ray optics.

c) Identify a candidate error budgeting process for the X-ray mirror assembly, articulating errors introduced at the segment, module and mirror assembly levels.

d) Identify any design and modeling capabilities that might be used to estimate the optical budget from photons to focal plane.

e) Identify candidate validation activities that will validate segment, module and XMA designs, include any specialize tools and methods.

f) Identify candidate verification procedures at the segment, module and XMA designs.

g) Identify how, as a member of the XMA SET, the candidate would participate in the overall

XMA Implementation Planning with regard to the mass production of XMA subsystem assemblies and parts, and the impact of segment and module development and delivery on the overall XMA assembly, integration and test.

h) A rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for participation on the XMA SET over the mission lifetime

5.2 Mirror Segment Provider Requirements

Submit material document not to exceed 15 pages. The font size for the text shall be no smaller than 12 points. File format should be PDF. The document must address all relevant requirements noted in Sections 2-4 of this POD and all relevant requirements in the Technical Package. The document should address:

a. Respondent’s experience in the manufacture, assembly, and test of precision optics, commensurate in quality and quantity with the optics described in the Technical Package. The experience can be in spaceflight, consumer, military, or any other areas.

b. Respondent’s capacity to manufacture the required number of segments and ability to acquire or lease additional facilities if needed.

c. Respondent’s capacity to provide and manage the trained, motivated workforce needed for manufacturing, including via hiring if necessary.

d. Respondent’s approach to control cost and schedule.

e. Respondent’s approach to quality control, including but not limited to testing segments and operating machines and tools

f. A notional Production Plan that meets requirements in the Technical Package for mirror segments and is consistent with the schedule in the Technical Package.

g. A rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for the notional Production Plan.

5.2 Mirror Module Provider Requirements:

Submit a materials document that shall not exceed 15 pages. The font size for the text shall be no smaller than 12 points. File format should be PDF. The document must address all relevant requirements noted in Sections 2-4 of this POD and all relevant requirements in the Technical Package. The materials document should address:

a. Respondent’s experience in the manufacture, assembly, and test of precision optics, commensurate in quality and quantity with the optics described in the Technical Package.

The experience can be in spaceflight, consumer, military, or any other areas.

b. Respondent’s capacity to receive segments, manufacture the required number of modules, and ability to acquire or lease additional facilities if needed.

c. Respondent’s capacity to provide and manage the trained, motivated workforce needed for manufacturing, including via hiring if necessary.

d. Respondent’s approach to control cost and schedule.

e. Respondent’s approach to quality control, including but not limited to testing optical performance and operating machines and tools.

f. A notional Production Plan that meets requirements in the Technical Package for mirror modules and is consistent with the schedule in the Technical Package.

g. A rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for the notional Production Plan.

NOTE: Respondents proposing to provide both the segments and mirrors may provide up to 15 pages for each in a single document that conforms to the other requirements.

6. Evaluation Factors and Criteria

Selection criteria will be consistent with the desire to encourage a cost-effective partnership between the Government and Industry. The information requested in Section 5 will allow the evaluators to determine how well the respondents’ capabilities match and enable the AXIS mission.

The evaluation team will use the following factors, applied to each role candidates responded to in selection:

1. Technical Approach (30%): Respondents will be evaluated on their ability to meet and understand the requirements given in this document and Technical Package, based in part but not in whole on the notional Production Plan.

2. Relevant Experience and Past Performance (30%): Special emphasis will be given to demonstrated experience with similar hardware deliveries at the scale required by the AXIS

XMA.

3. Cost/Schedule (40%): Respondents will be evaluated on their experience and plan to control overall production cost and production schedule.

7.Acronyms

AXIS - Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite CSR - Concept Study Report ESA - European Space Agency GSFC – Goddard Space Flight Center JAXA - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NuSTAR - Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array NXGO - Next Generation X-ray Optics team XRISM - X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission XMA - X-ray Mirror Assembly NOI - Notice of Interest POD - Partnership Opportunity Document ROM - Rough Order of Magnitude