Key Capabilities Questions_092023.pdf

Lunar Freezer System Request for Information (RFI)

September 2023

This document has been approved for public release per STRIVES #20230014114.

This document has been approved for public release via the STRIVES Process (#20230014114).

It has been reviewed for Proprietary, CUI, and Export Control (ITAR/EAR) and has been determined to be non-sensitive.

Capabilities Questions

1. What novel ideas or new technologies can your organization provide that would enable the Lunar Freezer System to maintain sample temperatures at or below -85°C (within the cold volume)?

2. What type of cooling method would you implement in the freezer to maintain cold volume temperatures of -85°C or below for a minimum of 30 continuous days?

3. What unique or novel methods would your company/organization suggest for transferring the hardware and/or samples between the various vehicles?

a. The traditional method is to power off the unit while located in Vehicle A, transfer the entire freezer unit between vehicles, then provide mechanical mounting and power in Vehicle B. Please provide concepts for other non-traditional strategies, e.g. transfer only the cold volume between vehicles while the power component remains in each vehicle, etc.

4. Please provide details regarding your company/organization’s experience designing and building hardware to maintain temperatures of -85°C or below inside a conditioned volume? Is it active (requires power) or passive (unpowered)? Describe the hardware and method to maintain temperature control. (E.g. if powered, what is the cooling mechanism, engine, working fluid, etc.)

5. What experience does your organization have building flight hardware? List current or previously flown space flight hardware and the application or purpose.

6. Based on the anticipated requirements provided in this document, what is a reasonable project schedule for delivery of the first flight unit (e.g. hardware design, development, manufacturing, assembly, qualification testing, delivery) – assume all flight units are to be delivered per NASA Class I flight hardware standards.

7. What power is required to:

a. Cool a sample down to -85°C?

b. Maintain a sample temperature of -85°C (assuming the cold volume has reached steady state)?

i. Note: Orion is limited to 100W.

8. Assuming an ambient environment temperature range of 18°C to 29°C, what is the estimated duration that the freezer will remain below -75°C while unpowered?

9. What is the maximum air temperature (warmest ambient environment) that will allow the freezer to maintain -85°C? (I.e. at what point is the air temperature too hot for the freezer to maintain -85°C using exclusively air cooling?)

Lunar Freezer System Request for Information (RFI)

September 2023

This document has been approved for public release per STRIVES #20230014114.

10. Would the freezer require any post-flight or scheduled maintenance based on length of operation, age, etc.?

11. What materials or design solutions would allow the freezer to operate during and after exposure to salt spray (i.e. ocean water landing environment)?

12. What design challenges would result if two different air flow inlet/outlet configurations (or multiple inlet/outlet locations) are necessary for the freezer based on vehicle interface requirements?

13. What modifications would be required to enable an Intra-vehicular Activity (IVA) freezer to survive full depressurization to vacuum (including exposure to the lunar vacuum and thermal environment) and resume nominal operability upon re-pressurization of the cabin?

14. What components of the freezer would preclude the design from being vacuum compatible?