exhibit_1-JPL_solicitation_YT-18-04.pdf

Exoplanet RFI- Exhibit 1 to JPL Solicitation #YT-18-04 July 24, 2018

The Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) is responsible for implementing NASA’s plans for the discovery and understanding of planetary systems around nearby stars. ExEP plays an important function in exoplanet research, by laying out a long-term view of the entire field and charting out a strategic timeline of missions and instruments. For more information on ExEP, please visit our website: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov

Part of ExEP’s technology development involves developing techniques to block out starlight while preserving the light emitted by the exoplanets orbiting their stars. This technology is called starlight suppression and it is a task that NASA’s flower-shaped starshade is designed to make easier. Working in conjunction with a space-based telescope, the starshade is able to position itself precisely between the telescope and the star that is being observed, and can block the starlight before it even reaches the telescope’s mirrors.

With the starlight suppressed, light coming from exoplanets orbiting the star would be visible.

Using this technology, astronomers would be able to directly image exoplanets providing clues as to whether such worlds could support life. For more information on starshade technology, please visit our website: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/resources/1015/flower-power-nasa-reveals-spring-starshade-animation/

To enable technical readiness of this approach, NASA Headquarters has chartered the Starshade Technology Development Activity (S5) to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5. The S5 Activity will implement technology consistent with a Technology Development Plan (TDP) to be submitted to Headquarters in September 2018 and informed in part by technology gap assessments (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/newsletters/issue17/techupdate/) conducted through the ExoPAG (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/overview/). The S5 Activity will be open to new ideas in this rapidly evolving field and will periodically update the Technology Development Plan accordingly.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain your ideas and interest to support S5 drawing from the broadest expertise. In particular, we are interested in how you would respond to and address the following:

1. What technology capability does your organization have that contribute to the technology objectives of S5?

2. If the Exoplanet Exploration Program sets up a multi-year industry forum to collaboratively explore technical solutions for starshade technology, would your organization be interested in participating? Would your organization be willing to cost-share? If so, how should the cost-sharing model be structured to satisfy the parties in a potential, future subcontract?

https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/ https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/resources/1015/flower-power-nasa-reveals-spring-starshade-animation/ https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/resources/1015/flower-power-nasa-reveals-spring-starshade-animation/ https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/newsletters/issue17/techupdate/ https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/overview/