Atch 1 - SCREAM SOW 27 January 2026.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Space Chemistry of Reactions through Experiments And Modeling (SCREAM) 27 January 2026

1.0 OBJECTIVE:

To support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) goals by providing research and development capabilities using a combined laboratory and computational approach to understanding the space environment and other associated goals to benefit the Air Force (AF) or Space Force (SF) with associated experiments made possible by experimental infrastructure.

2.0 SCOPE

The contractor will provide experimental and computational expertise to the Space Chemistry, LaSR Chemistry, and Plasma Chemistry laboratories as described herein at AFRL’s Space Vehicle Directorate at Kirtland AFB, NM. They will acquire and analyze data, prepare presentations for conferences and journal publication, and assist in transitioning results to relevant AF or SF programs. Additionally, personnel will aid in designing, assembling, and maintaining laboratory infrastructure all in a manner consistent with AF, SF, and New Mexico (NM) state regulations.

3.0 TASKS/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

CLIN 1

3.1 Space Chemistry Laboratory

Task 1: Fundamental physical chemistry associated with electrospray thruster operations A. Perform experimental investigations to derive new fundamental physical insights into the dynamics occurring in the plume of electrospray thrusters.

B. Develop, perform and assess theoretical models, simulations and calculations of the plume of electrospray thrusters and their relative performance to available experimental observables.

C. Perform experiments and simulations into the in-flight dissociation of clusters generated from ionic liquid-based electrospray thrusters.

D. Perform fundamental experiments into electrospray thruster-surface material interactions including the effects of the space environment on any contamination.

Task 2: Hyperthermal physics of meteor re-entry and electric propulsion A. Support and advance basic research into the charge transfer dynamics of atmospheric charged species - metal vapor collisions at collision energies of 0.5-10 eV in the center of mass reference frame.

B. Perform quantitative, fundamental investigations into the luminescence expected from high energy collisions of VLEO species at typical electric propulsion kinetic energies.

C. Develop and assess new collisional radiative models associated with electric propulsion (air-breathing or typical in-space) operations.

Task 3: Charge conversion sensor materials A. Perform experiments to determine the efficacy of various surface materials to convert Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) atmospherically relevant neutral species into charged species at 5 eV collision energies.

B. Support any necessary modeling to provide insight into interpreting the experimental results of Task 3A.

Task 4: Space Weather Models, Forecasts, and Data Processing A. Support processing, organization and storage of data derived from AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate Space Weather related on-orbit activities such as CEASE-3/WSF-M, GRIDS, Diadem, etc.

B. Support basic science investigations into the use of the space weather data to generate real-time space environment monitoring and forecasting to support spacecraft anomaly assessments.

CLIN 2

3.2 LaSR Chemistry Laboratory

· Task 1: Atmospheric Research

· Create and conduct experiments on metal vapor plumes to determine concentration or surface coverage.

· Conduct experiments on reactions that are capable of vaporizing material or otherwise operate as thermal batteries.

· Create models of experimental data, literature data and community models necessary to transition laboratory results into relevant scenarios.

· Design and Engineering support of laboratory and associated AFRL level experiments and transitions.

· Experiments and analysis on plumes from relevant sources such as space thrusters, other space gas releases, and atmospheric releases.

· Support and analysis of large field campaigns and transition activities.

· Task 2: Thrusters

· Conduct experiments on ion and cluster reaction rates in a linear ion trap.

· Experiments and modeling of plume constituents interaction with the space environment and surfaces.

· Experiments and simulations of VLEO thrusters and their effects on the space environment.

· Task 3 Plasmas

· Use spectroscopy to better understand plasma dynamics and the state distributions in plasmas.

· Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) of AFRL relevant materials and as a laboratory plasma source.

· Task 4 General

· Spectroscopy support of other AFRL research programs as needed.

CLIN 3

3.3 Plasma Chemistry Laboratory

· Task 1: Fundamental chemistry of weakly ionized plasmas

· Measure the temperature-dependent kinetics of thermal and non-thermal plasma processes including ion-molecule, dissociative recombination, electron attachment, and mutual neutralization reactions relevant to the ionosphere, hypersonic plasmas, combustion, materials degradation, and other systems of AF or SF interest.

· Perform quantum chemical calculations to support and interpret laboratory measurements.

· Develop and validate statistical models to support, interpret, and extrapolate laboratory measurements.

· Develop rigorous methodologies for uncertainty analysis of both laboratory measurements and derived models.

· Investigate fundamental aspects of chemistry in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere, including quantifying chemistries of species deposited from spacecraft ablation and predicting effects of transport phenomena.

· Incorporate spectroscopic monitoring of excited-state atomic species in flow tube apparatus in order to improve kinetics measurements.

· Task 2: Nanoparticle mass spectrometry

· Investigate the combustion of aluminum nanoparticles, with a focus on the size- and temperature-dependence of interactions with various oxidizing gases.

3.4 Common to all programs

· Prepare presentations for briefings and scientific and engineering conferences.

· Attend relevant briefings, scientific and engineering conferences, and experiment and program reviews.

· Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals of results cleared for public release.

· Transition laboratory results of experiments and calculations to relevant AF programs

· Acquire miscellaneous laboratory supplies necessary to support task activities performed by in-house contractor personnel.

· Install and troubleshoot instrumentation.

· Perform laboratory actions in a manner compliant with AF and NM regulations regarding hazardous waste, fire and safety, tool control, and chemical storage.

3.5 Reporting

· Continually determine the status of the effort and report progress toward accomplishment of contract requirements.

· Continually determine status of funding required for contract performance.

· Perform, record, and disclose physical inventory results of all Contractor Acquired Property (CAP).

· Document all technical work accomplished and information gained during the performance of this contract. This shall include all pertinent observations, nature of problems, positive as well as negative results, and “Lessons Learned”. The details of all technical work shall be documented to permit full understanding of the techniques and procedures used in evolving technology or processes developed.