SATPC0038036 Tab 04 4 SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Background

This statement of work (SOW) details the work to be performed OMP in support of the NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center (GSFC) led NIAC-I Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE).

We propose the first hybrid observatory, combining a 100 m diameter starshade in space with a telescope on the ground. The Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE) would convert the largest ground-based telescopes now under construction (Giant Magellan Telescope, Thirty Meter Telescope, and Extremely Large

Telescope) into the most powerful planet finders yet designed. No other proposed equipment can match the angular resolution (image sharpness), sensitivity (ability to see faint objects in a given time), or contrast (ability to see faint planets near bright stars). The large telescope is needed because Earth-like planets are extremely faint. The starshade is needed to block the glare of the host stars; the sun is 10 billion times brighter than the Earth at visible wavelengths. A starshade in an astro-stationary orbit would match position and velocity with the moving telescope, and cast a dark shadow of the star, without blocking the light of its planets. Active propulsion would maintain alignment during the observation. Adaptive optics in the telescope would compensate for atmospheric distortion of the incoming images.

The HOEE would address the highest priority recommendation of the Exoplanet Strategy report: observe reflected light from Earth- like planets with low resolution spectroscopy. This light is influenced by surface minerals, oceans, continents, weather, vegetation, and atmospheric constituents, temperature, and pressure.

Observing many systems would help answer the question of why configurations like our own Solar System are rare; of the thousands of known exoplanet systems, none are quite like home, with inner rocky planets, a faint cloud of dust, an asteroid belt, and giant outer planets. Observing photosynthetic oxygen would answer the questions of whether life is rare or common, what it requires, and how long it takes to grow.

But this starshade is not constructible with today's designs. An ultra-lightweight redesign will be developed that can be built or assembled in space. Our objective is to cut the starshade mass by more than a factor of 10.

2. Scope

We will design the first family of ISEE’s (Inflatable Starshade for Earthlike Exoplanets) with sizes from

35 to 100 m diameter. A starshade would enable any telescope to observe exoplanets, a top priority for astronomy worldwide. Compared with other starshade concepts, we aim for a lower mass, cost and complexity, while still providing high performance and science yield (>100 targets). Our starshades would be compatible with the 6 m diameter Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) now being planned, as well as the world’s largest telescope, the 39 m diameter European Extremely Large Telescope now being built in Chile, working as part of the HOEE, (Hybrid Observatory for Earthlike Exoplanets), and other future telescopes. We need to observe oxygen at visible wavelengths and ozone at UV.

3. Engineering Tasks

There are six engineering tasks to be completed: 1) INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS REVIEW – which includes a req definition review, literature review and initial engineering feasabiulity, 2) CONCEPTUAL DESIGN – which includes Requirment validation matrix, and conceptual nechnical design. 3) PRELIMINARY DESIGN – which includes mechanical CAD module, thermal FEA module and structural performance analysis at a low grade fidelity, 4) POST PRELIMINARY DESIGN - which includes mechanical CAD module, thermal FEA module and structural performance analysis at a medium fidelity, 5) DETAILED DESIGN - which includes mechanical CAD module, thermal FEA module and structural performance analysis at a high grade fidelity, 6)

Reporting and Documetation – including presentation materials, complete CAD models, FEA, structural performance as well as deployment analysis folding, and launch survivability.

https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/programs/habitable-worlds-observatory/

4. Milestones

Review Gate Review Date *

Award May 1st, 2025

Preliminary Design X June 6, 2025

Post Perliminairy Design X August 18, 2025

Detailed Design X Oct 14, 2025

Complete Documentation March 14, 2026

‘*’ Dates reflect notional schedule and proposed costs.