Attachment A5-Topic 5-Statement of Objectives.pdf

Attachment A5: Statement of Objectives (SOO) Topic 5 NextSTEP-3 Appendix A

1. PURPOSE

This Statement of Objectives (SOO) defines mission need, objectives, desired outcomes, and constraints to enable industry to propose commercially viable and credible solutions to Topic 5 of NextSTEP-3 Appendix A.

Offerors are expected to apply independent scientific and engineering judgment in selecting technical approaches and proposed solutions that best satisfy the objectives and outcomes defined herein.

See Appendix A for additional solicitation details.

2. BACKGROUND/MISSION NEED

NASA’s space exploration and science mission objectives rely on advancements in advanced material innovations to meet their objectives. Innovative nanomaterials can support these objectives in several key areas, such as novel habitats optimized for crew safety, large-area radiators and heat exchangers for nuclear-powered spacecraft and surface assets, high-strength ropes and cabling for manipulation of payloads, regolith, logistics, and/or equipment in the extreme lunar environments, deployable components for power generation and distribution infrastructure, and advanced sensors for environmental and structural health monitoring.

Advancing these innovative nanomaterials will expand the palette of structural and sensory materials available for multiple systems, enabling performance levels that cannot be achieved with existing materials. Improving the commercial availability of these high-performance nanomaterials is critical for testing high-payoff concepts essential to NASA’s exploration goals.

Furthermore, producing and demonstrating these materials at practical, application-relevant scales enable mission designers to confidently incorporate them into component solutions thereby addressing existing Civil Space Technology Shortfalls.

This topic seeks to advance commercial availability, performance, quality, and consistency of nanomaterials to support science and exploration applications.

3. OBJECTIVES

Successful efforts shall address one or more of the following key objectives:

3.1 Objective 1 – Large-Scale Nanomaterial Manufacturing: Develop scalable manufacturing approaches of innovative macroscale (one-dimensional and two-dimensional) nanomaterial assemblages suitable for structural space applications, demonstrating advancement in Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of an initial MRL of 3-4 to a target MRL of 5.

3.2 Objective 2 – Structural Component Applications: Demonstrate the application of innovative nanomaterials in structural components relevant to space systems, including primary and secondary structural applications to include structural protective applications.

Proposed efforts shall demonstrate measurable performance improvements relative to current industry-standard materials and approaches.

https://www.nasa.gov/spacetechpriorities/ https://www.nasa.gov/moontomarsarchitecture/

3.3 Objective 3 – Non-Structural Component Applications: Demonstrate the application of innovative nanomaterials in non-structural space-relevant components or subsystems where nanomaterial-enabled performance improvements can provide operational or mission benefit.

4. PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES

Successful efforts shall achieve the following outcomes:

4.1 Large-Scale Nanomaterial Manufacturing

4.1.1 Demonstration of increased manufacturing readiness levels for scalable nanomaterial production processes.

4.1.2 Validation of improved material performance, quality, consistency, or manufacturability for space-relevant applications.

4.1.3 Manufacturing of high strength one-dimensional (fiber-like) nanomaterial assemblage with linear density uniformity index less than 14 %, a failure force ≥ 25 N, with a tenacity ≥ 2.5 N/tex, in lengths ≥ 50 km with the ≥50 km being made up of spools of material with continuous length ≥ 600 m.

4.1.4 Manufacturing of two-dimensional (sheet-like) nanomaterial assemblage with axial strength greater than 0.4 GPa and transverse strength ≥ 50 % of the axial strength at a sheet size ≥ 1 m x 2 m.

4.2 Structural Component Applications

4.2.1 Demonstration of component-level prototypes incorporating innovative nanomaterials with measurable performance improvements over current industry-standard materials.

4.2.2 Documentation of envisioned space applications, operational benefits, performance targets, and viable technology infusion pathways.

4.2.3 Market research supported analysis of the supply chain for the target innovative nanomaterials at quantities and performance levels consistent with the envisaged application.

4.2.4 Analysis-supported transition strategies describing the potential integration of the demonstrated technology into future commercial or NASA-relevant space systems.

4.3 Non-Structural Component Applications

4.3.1 Demonstration of component-level prototypes incorporating innovative nanomaterials with measurable performance improvements over current industry-standard materials.

4.3.2 Documentation of envisioned space applications, operational benefits, performance targets, and viable technology infusion pathways

4.3.3 Market research supported analysis of the supply chain for the target innovative nanomaterials at quantities and performance levels consistent with the envisaged application.

4.3.4 Analysis-supported transition strategies describing the potential integration of the demonstrated technology into future commercial or NASA-relevant space systems.

5. CONSTRAINTS AND SCOPE

The following in-scope and out-of-scope constraints apply to all proposed technical approaches.

Offerors shall ensure their proposed technical approach strictly adheres to these boundaries.

5.1 In-Scope: The following materials and applications shall be considered in scope and included in this effort:

5.1.1 For All Objectives: Nanomaterials including, but not limited to, carbon nanotubes, boron nitride nanotubes, graphene, or hybrids thereof.

5.1.2 Large-Scale Nanomaterial Manufacturing: Macroscale assemblage relevant to space structural applications including but not limited to yarns and sheets.

5.1.3 Structural Component Applications: Nanomaterial based structural components relevant to space systems, including primary and secondary structural applications to include structural protective applications.

5.1.4 Nonstructural Component Applications: Nanomaterial enabled nonstructural components relevant to space applications. Includes, but is not limited to, sensors, actuators, wiring, nanomaterials-based space relevant physical separators and processing aids that are not primarily catalysts, or nanomaterial enabled improvements of non-structural material properties of a structural component, e.g. thermal or electrical conductivity of trusses, etc.

Proposed components or subsystems could include deployable components for power generation and distribution infrastructure.

5.2 Out-of-Scope: The following materials and applications shall be considered out of scope and are excluded from this effort:

5.2.1 Matrix-Heavy Composites for Structural Component Applications: Composite materials consisting predominantly of a matrix material such as nanomaterial-doped polymers with low nanomaterial loading that cannot meet the performance needs of a structural space application.

5.2.2 Excluded Applications: Catalysis or biomedical related uses of nanomaterials.

5.2.3 Non-Space Applications: Materials or components that lack relevance to space applications.

5.2.4 Lack of Advancement: Any materials or components that fail to advance the current state of the art for structural or non-structural space applications.

6. DELIVERABLES, MILESTONES AND REVIEWS

Offerors shall propose deliverables, milestones and reviews appropriate to the maturity, scope, and technical approach of their proposed efforts. Proposed milestones shall represent meaningful and measurable technical progress, Proposed deliverables shall provide sufficient objective technical evidence to demonstrate progress toward, or achievement of, the stated objectives and outcomes. Proposed reviews and Government insight activities shall provide the Government with opportunities to assess technical progress, performance, technical maturity, and readiness to proceed. The desired deliverables, milestones, and reviews of a successful proposal include:

6.1 Demonstrations and supporting documentation validating advancements in manufacturing capability, operational readiness, or application integration for one-dimensional and two-dimensional nanomaterial assemblages and nanomaterial-enabled components.

6.2 Material samples, component artifacts, prototypes, or demonstration articles representative of the proposed technology and suitable for evaluating manufacturing progression, material performance, and operational applicability.

6.3 Technical reports and briefings documenting manufacturing development, process maturation, material characterization, testing activities, performance improvements, and technical progress throughout the period of performance.

6.4 Materials characterization, manufacturing, and performance data supporting assessment of scalability, quality, repeatability, and suitability for space-relevant applications.

6.5 Test reports documenting structural, operational, functional, or environmental performance of nanomaterial-enabled components or systems relevant to proposed space applications.

6.6 Documentation describing the proposed pathway for advancing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL), or operational applicability of the demonstrated technology for future NASA or commercial space applications.

6.7 Government insight activities including technical interchange meetings, monthly technical progress reports, monthly project status meetings, milestone reviews, demonstrations, and site visits, as appropriate and coordinated with the Government, to support technical assessment, collaboration and programmatic visibility throughout the period of performance.

NASA will actively engage with selected Offerors through ongoing technical engagement, milestone reviews, and Government insight and oversight activities to support assessment of technical progress, and achievement of program objectives.

6.8 Final Report (Limited and Unlimited versions. Unlimited versions shall be free from ITAR/EXPORT control and should be able to be shared with the public.).

6.9 Continuation Review: The Contractor shall support a continuation review for each CLIN prior to completion of the CLIN and, when applicable, prior to Government authorization to proceed with the subsequent CLIN. The Contractor shall provide the Government with information sufficient to assess technical performance, schedule status, risk retirement, deliverable status, unresolved issues, technical maturity, and readiness to proceed. The Contractor shall also provide its recommendation regarding continuation. The Government will use the results of the continuation review to inform its decision regarding exercise of the subsequent Option.