J.2-A-2 Lunar Communications.pdf

Lunar Communications

BACKGROUND

Over the coming decades, NASA will establish a long-term presence at the Moon, opening more of the lunar surface to exploration than ever before. The growth of lunar activity will require new, more robust communications, navigation, and networking capabilities.

NASA is assessing Radio Frequency (RF) Propagation Environment of the Moon in support of Lunar Surface Exploration. An Over-The-Horizon Radio Communication (OTHRCOM) demonstration is being considered as a payload for a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission in calendar year 2025. The primary objective of the OTHRCOM is to demonstrate RF communication beyond lunar surface horizon as a non-relay solution.

The OTHRCOM demonstration is to deploy an over-the-horizon RF transmitter to a location between 14 km and 40 km from the lander and deploy the transmitter during the lander descent. Assuring the separated package would land intact from a likely high-altitude release would be a development challenge. Secondly, the deployment of a 10m antenna from both the transmitter package and the receiver package on the lander would also be a development challenge.

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) OTHRCOM team has just recently completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and was given approval to proceed with the implementation phase. At PDR, the OTHRCOM design comprises key subsystems to include Software Defined Radio (SDR) receiver and transmitter, antenna with deployment mechanism, power source, and impact absorber subsystems. The two highest risks identified at PDR were associated with a) long lead fabrication and assembly of extendable flexure structures for antenna deployment and b) the availability of high radiation hardened EEE parts for the transmitter.

Furthermore, GRC has revisited a make-or-buy decision and decided to acquire the balance of the design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E) through Mission Readiness Review. The transitional phase for the OTHRCOM efforts from Government to Contractor is to commence immediately following contract award.

BASE ORDER DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this Base Order is to continue the OTHRCOM DDT&E through Mission Readiness Review. This Base Order is to further reduce technical risks from where the PDR has been completed and to build, qualify, and deliver a flight set of OTHRCOM for Lunar surface communications demonstration.

The Contractor is required to provide discipline specific engineering personnel for the OTHRCOM implementation phase. This SOW includes Base Order management, systems engineering, safety and mission assurance, hardware and software design, development, fabrication, assembly, integration, and test.

Life-cycle reviews are to be conducted consistent with NPR 7120.5F and NPR 7123.1C and shall be held at NASA GRC. All PDR artifacts will be available to the Contractor. After the 3 month phase-in period, the GRC OTHRCOM core team will include the Project Manager who will also be this Base Order Manager, GRC Principal Investigator, Chief Engineer, and Chief Safety and Mission Assurance Officer to oversee all aspects of OTHRCOM project.

SCOPE OF WORK

The SOW Performance Work Statement 4.1, 4.2, 4.6 and 4.7 are applicable and the Contractor shall:

Perform DDT&E leading to qualify and deliver an OTHRCOM flight set for lunar surface demonstration.

Coordinate with launch service provider, CLPS lander provider, and Mission Control Center provider to ensure that the OTHROM interfaces are compatible and properly integrate with the external elements for checkout, launch and operations. Develop the required interface documents.

Coordinate with NASA GRC Spectrum Management Office and develop documentation for radio frequency authorization approval.

Develop qualification strategy to recommend an approach to cost and schedule reduction with reasonable and acceptable technical risks.

Develop and conduct end-to-end OTHRCOM system ground demonstration to support the design and operations. Key interfaces to external elements shall also be electrically and mechanically fit checked.

Develop ground support hardware/equipment and software that are required to support ORTHRCOM development and mission operations.

Perform RF compatibility testing.

Perform qualification testing and acceptance testing.

Build, test, and deliver an OTHRCOM flight set to support the target launch date of no later than July 2, 2025.

Prepare and conduct the following Reviews. These reviews shall be conducted consistent with NPR 7123.1C and NPR 7120.5F. Prior to each Life-cycle review, a review plan along with a review readiness assessment shall be accomplished by the Contractor and provided to the GRC OTHRCOM Base Order Manager for concurrence.

• Critical Design Review (CDR)

• System Acceptance Review (SAR)

• Operational Readiness Review (ORR)