Enclosure 1 NBOC II Scenarios 2-10-20 LBH-TS Inspected.pdf

NASA Balloon Operations Contract (NBOC II) Scenarios

General Background for All Scenarios

The NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) at the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) requires operations and maintenance and engineering services in support of the Baseline Mission Model of the Statement of Work. Operations and Maintenance activities managed and supported by the NASA Balloon Operations Contract (NBOC II) Offeror range from the home institution to established remote sites and the establishment of new sites. Engineering services and technical activities range from continuous support of the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) flight and ground systems and approved user support, to the research and development of new or enhanced systems and vehicles. The following scenarios capture a broad spectrum of the work expected on the NBOC II contract.

The first scenario addresses how the Offeror would conduct aircraft operations in support of the summer Palestine and fall Fort Sumner Campaigns. In addition, aircraft support of the Sweden-to-Canada Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Campaign is required to effect timely termination and recovery of those missions. The support includes logistics and support operations including ground, launch, flight, termination and recovery activities.

The second scenario addresses the mission/campaign lifecycle of the Balloon Program’s premier Antarctic Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Campaign. The support includes planning, fabrication, engineering, logistics, and operations.

The third scenario/Representative Task Order addresses a hypothetical requirement to identify a new U.S.

balloon launch site to augment operations conducted from Palestine and Fort Sumner.

For each scenario a brief background is given, followed by a scenario description and period of performance. A wide scope of support is required in these scenarios and the Offeror shall identify all assumptions made in its responses.

The following scenarios focus on major balloon mission and campaign planning and support. The scenarios should not be correlated to the Baseline Mission Model in the NBOC II SOW – they are fictitious. The Offeror is required to support the entire mission manifest in the Baseline Mission Model.

The mission manifest includes established campaigns as well as non-annual, temporary, or remote campaigns in a given year. Established campaigns include Palestine, Fort Sumner, and Antarctica. Non-annual campaigns may include Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand and will be implemented on a program or science-initiated basis to be planned and conducted by the Offeror. Balloon campaigns including peripheral support represent a significant portion of the total Offeror workload and it is critical and contingent upon the Offeror to conduct operations in accordance with pre-established schedules and program-oriented priorities. The Offeror is required to maintain nominal CSBF onsite operations throughout the year which may include ongoing science support, flight support operations, facility operations and maintenance, fabrication, engineering, and administration; offsite operations may include launch campaigns as well as science support on an as-requested basis. The NBOC II Offeror shall make all efforts to pursue and take advantage of cost efficiencies through staffing, scheduling, project and program management.

Scenario #1

Domestic U.S. and Canada Aircraft Support

Background

Aircraft support of NASA’s balloon missions is a critical asset capability for domestic U.S. operations, especially so, given the overflight of public and privately-owned lands that NASA balloons fly over and are brought down on at the end of each flight (termination). When needed, they provide for enhanced safety of operations by serving as reconnaissance of what’s on the ground prior to termination. Aircraft provide for uninterrupted communications with the Fort Sumner or Palestine Control Centers, FAA Center or Canadian ATC, as well as onboard telemetry monitoring and commanding of balloon housekeeping data and sending of commands for balloon flight control functions. Aircraft are used to direct ground-based recovery teams onto the location of downed payloads and balloons in order to expedite recovery, especially when performing recovery extractions from difficult terrain. Aircraft may be required to provide ancillary support from time-to-time to expedite transport of personnel or equipment to downrange locations The Offeror shall provide all aircraft, pilots, senior observer, installation and operation of unique BPO communications and telemetry systems, aircraft maintenance, pilot proficiencies, and required certifications, which are sufficient to effectively and safely perform all NASA balloon missions. Offeror shall plan for the readiness and availability when needed of two aircraft on station for both the summer Palestine and fall Fort Sumner Campaigns.

The Offeror shall assume there is no overlap of operations between the summer Palestine and fall Fort Sumner Campaigns. However, a Sweden-to-Canada LDB Campaign may be conducted concurrently with the summer Palestine Campaign.

Scenario Description

Three payloads have been manifested for launch from Palestine during the June 1 - July 15 timeframe.

One of those three payloads was launched in the evening and has about another six hours remaining of flight through the night before its planned early morning termination in west Texas. Of the remaining two Palestine payloads awaiting launch, the next one is not expected to be made flight ready for another 10 days, with the third payload being made flight ready shortly after that. Thus far, the Palestine Campaign appears to be on schedule to be completed by July 15.

Two LDB payloads were manifested to be launched from Esrange, Kiruna, Sweden between June 1 through July 10, with planned trajectories to the west over northern Canada where they will be terminated and recovered between 92 to 107 degrees west longitude and 68 to 70 degrees north latitude.

One of those two LDB payloads has already been flown and remotely terminated from the OCC at CSBF Palestine. Recovery of that payload is planned to begin the following week but fly-over reconnaissance is yet to be performed. It is believed to be located on open tundra amidst a large area of boreal forest containing several relatively open areas that might be suitable for aircraft access. The second Sweden -

Canada LDB payload was launched and is approaching Canada on a trajectory that will need to be terminated within the next 36 to 60 hours. It is a small, lighter weight instrument that has only modest power and data support requirements; however, it does require physical recovery of the instrument within two weeks following termination in order to achieve its comprehensive science. This second LDB mission was configured only with LOS (line of sight command and telemetry) and a single Iridium transceiver for OTH (over-the-horizon command and telemetry) communications. The Iridium transceiver has been demonstrating sporadic performance over the past six hours, both with receiving of commands from the OCC as well as transmitting of data.

Six payloads are manifested to be launched during the upcoming fall Fort Sumner Campaign, which is on schedule for opening of the planned August 15 launch window in support of the first payload. The fall Fort Sumner Campaign is scheduled to run continuously through about the middle of October. It is anticipated that aircraft logistical support might be required as early as the last week of July in order to complete final preparations for the Fort Sumner Campaign.

Period of Performance

This scenario will start at the completion of the previous fall Fort Sumner Campaign and end at the completion of the above mentioned fall Fort Sumner Campaign.

Scenario #2

Antarctic Campaign

The Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Antarctic Campaign is the annual premier launch campaign for the NASA Balloon Program. The NBOC II Offeror’s campaign preparations, CSBF onsite integration, implementation, and execution encompass the entire year. The campaign will nominally support two LDB missions that require both onsite and remote support. For the purpose of this scenario, two missions will be manifested as described below. The campaign is peripherally supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) contractors through transportation, housing, dining, facilities, and maintenance. The duration of the Antarctic campaign is typically mid-October through late January or early February. Launches are conducted during December and January during the austral summer stratospheric anti-cyclone. Mission durations typically last from 7 to 40 days and are determined by science requirements, weather, and support requirements. The Offeror shall support all phases of campaign preparation, science support, launch operations, and remote recovery operations. For the Antarctic Campaign, the Offeror shall establish and maintain working relationships with the science customer, NSF, ASC, NASA, et al.

The Offeror shall assume during the Antarctic launch campaign (December – January) there are no concurrent campaigns. However there will be overlap in the October timeframe due to ongoing Fall Fort Sumner Campaign operations. Additionally, the Offeror shall support CSBF onsite pre-shipment integration and testing and Mission Readiness Review (MRR) for an Explorer’s Class Mission of Opportunity scheduled for launch from New Zealand the following March - April timeframe. Onsite CSBF support for the Antarctic campaign will include continuous mission control from the CSBF Operations Control Center in Palestine, TX, throughout each of the Antarctic and New Zealand mission’s.

The Antarctic facilities will be established with support from the NSF and its contractors by October 23, 2023. NSF provides support contractors including a field camp manager, cook staff, and general facility support staff. Facilities include two (2) payload buildings, rigging shop, telemetry/electronics shop, galley, and facility support. Limited heavy equipment operations are provided by the NSF contractor for balloon pad (ice/snow) grooming and site support.

Standard CSBF support systems and vehicles are developed, fabricated, refurbished, and/or procured to meet the LDB mission profile unless otherwise noted.

Both launches are scheduled to occur between December 1, 2023 and January 15, 2024. For the purpose of this scenario, the Offeror shall assume three missions were launched during the summer Palestine Campaign, two missions were launched during the summer 2023 Sweden to Canada LDB Campaign and six missions were launched during the preceding fall Fort Sumner Campaign. The Antarctic stratospheric anti-cyclone will be established on December 15, 2023. Launch opportunities present themselves every 5- 7 days. A 4 day turnaround by the Offeror between missions is nominal. For recovery operations, the Twin Otter and Basler aircraft are available on a limited basis and highly dependent upon scheduling with the NSF contractor. Two Basler flights are guaranteed in support of all missions during the campaign.

Twin Otter flights are the principal recovery support aircraft. For the purpose of this scenario a total of four (4) Twin Otter payload recovery sorties have been scheduled by NSF. Helium Iso-Packs are required to be pre-positioned the prior season, two 39.57 Million Cubic Feet (MCF) balloons and one

34.43 MCF balloon are onsite in Antarctica from the previous season. Science equipment, CSBF equipment, expendables, and required balloon vehicles can be sea or air shipped to New Zealand. The final sea shipment for the immediate Austral summer season departs the U.S. on September 10. The sea shipment for large or heavy articles, like helium used for balloon inflations, departs in the December timeframe and is required to be at Port Hueneme no later than 1 November. The sole aircraft transport services to Antarctica during the season are C-17 or LC-130 aircraft. C-17 aircraft generally are limited for use up until the end of November. LC-130 aircraft can be used anytime depending upon coordination with NSF. There is no aircraft surveillance requirement for this campaign. The Offeror shall maintain constant command and control throughout the flight utilizing LOS and/or OTH. LOS shall be maintained only within the viewable radius of the LDB facility’s ground station following launch. The Offeror shall meet all minimum and critical success requirements; comprehensive success (comprehensive requirements from the science team regarding altitude, duration, telemetry, and recovery) shall be met on a best effort basis. The response shall outline all major deliverables and milestones. Non-standard support or development systems below shall be addressed in the response.

Mission 1

This LDB mission requires support of a NASA Standard balloon to be launched from the Long Duration Balloon facility located on the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The science instrument will be ready for shipment from CSBF by August 15. The science readiness window is December 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024, or as early as possible. The science minimum requirements state at least 2 rotations or 15 days at 4 millibar (mb) +/- 1 mb continuously. The comprehensive duration requirement is 40 days above 5mb. The suspended weight is 6000 pounds (lbs) (includes 600 lbs of steel ballast). LOS and OTH coverage are mission critical requirements. The science requires the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) High Gain Antenna at 100kbps return telemetry rate, Omni Antenna (TDRSS), IRIDIUM, and IRIDIUM Open Port. The science also requires the NASA Solar Pointing System (Rotator) augmented with Global Positioning System (GPS). The experiment dimensions are 14ft by 16ft by 13ft (LxWxH). The minimum recovery requirements are detectors and onboard data drives, the largest of which are 150lb stacks, 6ft by 3ft by 1ft.

Mission 2

This LDB mission requires support of a NASA Standard balloon to be launched from the Long Duration Balloon facility located on the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The science instrument will be ready for shipment from CSBF by August 25. The science readiness window is December 5, 2023 through December 21, 2023. The science minimum requirements state 6 days minimum at 4mb +2/-1mb.

The comprehensive duration requirement is 12 days at 3mb +/-1mb. The suspended weight is 5000 lbs (with 800 lbs of silica ballast). LOS and OTH coverage are mission critical requirements. The science requires the NASA Omni Antenna (TDRSS), IRIDIUM, and IRIDIUM Open Port. The experiment dimensions are 12ft by 12ft by 24ft (LxWxH). The science team requires 1800 liters of liquid Helium, 400 liters of liquid Nitrogen, and 5 compressed gas cylinders (k-bottles) of Nitrogen. The minimum recovery requirements are data drives and the telescope/ cryostat/ detectors, reconfigurable to no smaller than 3ft x 3ft x 7ft.

Period of Performance:

This scenario will start after the beginning of contract year 1 and end at the conclusion of all of the Governement Fiscal Year (GFY)24 Antarctic campaign activities.

Scenario #3/Representative Task Order

Selection of a New U.S. NASA Balloon Launch Site

In the future, NASA may require a new domestic U.S. launch site in the future that will better accommodate NASA Safety requirements for standard balloon operations and test flights as well as increase the number of missions per year that can fly through the night. The new domestic launch site will serve to augment, but not replace, the existing U.S. launch sites. A suitable launch site would take into consideration populations at or near the launch site as well as populations along anticipated trajectories and at downrange termination/recovery locations. Factors for consideration include accessability, accommodations for science and support personnel, facilities and amenities. Avoidance of areas having overfight restrictions is an important consideration. Not the least important consideration is that of suitable weather opportunities conducive for balloon launches.

NASA plans to implement a new domestic U.S. launch site that will better accommodate NASA Safety requirements and enable more missions to be conducted in the U.S. that fly during nighttime by FY25.

The new launch location must support the launch, flight, termination and recovery of 6 large science payload balloons with 4 of them achieving at minimum one nighttime of flight duration.

The Offeror is requested to provide a Indefinite Delivery Indefinate Quantity (IDIQ) Task Plan that outlines the major tasks, site requirements, coordination requirements, and milestone schedule to survey and select the new launch site.

Period of Performance

This scenario will start in October 2022 and end at the start of the inaugural campaign in 2025.