NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES PROGRAM Watts on the Moon Challenge REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) PROGRAM BACKGROUND The Centennial Challenges Program seeks to stimulate research and technology solutions to support NASA missions and inspire new national aerospace capabilities through public prize competitions. The program is an integral part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech. SUMMARY The Centennial Challenges program is seeking input for a proposed Watts on the Moon Challenge competition expected to start no earlier than end of September 2020. The goal of the competition is to enable new solutions for power distribution/management and energy storage. This Challenge will require competitors to develop solutions that meet minimum requirements and demonstrate robust performance in simulated lunar conditions at designated NASA (or other) test facilities. NASA’s ultimate goal is to incentivize lunar power solutions that could be adapted for operation on the lunar surface, while also advancing power technologies for terrestrial commercialization. This RFI seeks: (1) to gather feedback on the technical rules of the competition being considered; (2) to gather feedback on the proposed prize amounts and distribution structure; and (3) to determine the interest level in potentially competing in this challenge. Specific information sought is detailed in Sections 5-8. NASA welcomes all segments of the public, industry, academia, and government, including associations, innovators, makers and enthusiasts to reply to this RFI. This RFI is for informational/planning purposes only and the Government will not be responsible for any cost associated with preparing information in support of this RFI. This RFI is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into any agreement or other obligation or to conduct the Watts on the Moon Challenge. This notice is issued in accordance with the NASA Prize Authority, 51 U.S.C. § 20144. Responses may be made available for public review and should not include proprietary information. Submitted information will be shared within NASA and with contractor personnel associated with the NASA Centennial Challenges Program. All responses are to be for general access by government reviewers. For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, email to
[email protected]. BACKGROUND NASA is considering opening a Watts on the Moon Challenge competition to incentivize solutions to address technology gaps in the areas of high capacity, adaptable, and reliable lunar power storage, distribution and management systems that could help enable initial human presence on the Moon by 2024 and a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028. The Watts on the Moon Challenge seeks to address current technology gaps by identifying and fostering development and demonstrations of novel power technologies, systems, and/or approaches for power storage, distribution and management for long duration space exploration missions. CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION The Watts on the Moon Challenge competition is expected to be performed in two phases, that will not exceed a total of 36 months. The phases will have Mission Scenarios with three Mission Activities that will require the public to work solutions for power distribution, energy storage, and/or power management solution under harsh environmental lunar conditions of concern. Teams will have the opportunity to choose one or more activities to address with their solutions. Teams are eligible to win part of the total prize purse for each Mission Activity that they successfully address. DRAFT CHALLENGE RULES AND COMPETITION STRUCTURE Based upon responses to this RFI, NASA may update detailed written challenge rules (“Rules”). The final Rules would be the official specification of the competition structure. NASA will be responsible for orchestrating the announcement of the challenge and helping with recruiting team participants. In Phase 1, teams will submit a concept design that will address one or more of the mission activity(s) with details to verify their concept and teams will be scheduled to virtually present their concept ideas to competition judges. Prize purses for Phase 1 is expected to be $500,000. Up to three (3) winning teams, as determined by the Judging Panel, will be awarded $100,000 for each Mission Activity. Up to four (4) runner-up teams will receive up to $50,000 each. Phase 1 will last approximately eight months from the time that registration opens to the time that winners are announced. The Mission Scenario has three Mission Activities, each requiring a power delivery solution : Mission Activity #1 : Deliver power for a mobility platform operating inside the crater to collect and deliver water bearing material Mission Activity #2 : Deliver power for a water production plant operating inside the crater to extract and purify water from delivered material. Mission Activity #3 : Address thermal energy needs of an oxygen production plant outside the crater The initiation of Phase 2 is contingent on the emergence of promising submissions in Phase 1 that demonstrate a viable approach to achieve the challenge goals. Details about Phase 2 competition are not currently available but tentative information is provided. If Phase 2 is initiated, teams will be expected to build and demonstrate a solution that meets requirements and demonstrates robust performance in simulated lunar conditions (if possible) at designated test facilities, such as a NASA center or third-party laboratory. Prize purse for Phase 2 is expected to total $4.5 million. Additional detail about the number of winners and division of prize purses in Phase 2 (including milestone prizes, if offered) will be included in the Phase 2 rules. Following the end of Phase 2, one or more teams may be invited to work with NASA to design flight rated hardware for a potential future flight demonstration and/or operation on the lunar surface. Phase 2 (if initiated) will last approximately 28 months. The rules for Phase 2 will be released prior to the opening of Phase 2. Phase 1 Open Call for Registration Purpose: During the registration period, all interested competitors must register on the challenge website; complete the required forms; and meet all eligibility requirements as stated in the official rules in order to participate. Duration: ~5 Months Phase1: Participants will submit a concept proposal and video Objective: To identify a solution to one or more of the mission activities (3 total). Competitors will provide: Written concept of operations describing the proposed technology including the details of how they got to the solution. Supporting visual representation of the technology (video). Scoring: The design will be judged by a panel of experts using a pre-established set of requirements. Awards: Prize purses for Phase 1 will total up to $500,000. Up to three (3) winning teams, as determined by the Judging Panel, will be awarded $100,000 for each Mission Activity. Up to four (4) runner-up teams will receive up to $50,000 each. Duration: 6 months (concurrent with Open Call for Registration) INFORMATION SOUGHT FROM COMMENTERS This RFI seeks feedback on the anticipated competition structure, the prize amounts and distribution structure, and level of interest in competing in the Challenge. Feedback relative to interest in competing in the competition will influence the decision to proceed in this challenge. Responses on all sections are not required, but more information will help with the overall formulation of the challenge. Specific requested information is as follows: Interest and Readiness: Are you interested in participating as a competitor in this competition? If not interested in participating as a competitor, would you or your organization be interested in participating as a judge or event sponsor? What type of skills do you think your team would need to compete? What barriers limit your interest or ability to participate? How can these barriers be addressed in the timelines, requirements and formulation of these challenges? Do you have a relevant production system ready or nearly ready to participate in this Challenge? What level of development and investment is needed before your system is ready to participate in the Challenge? Are there specific emerging breakthrough technologies that are applicable to the Challenge goals? What actions could be taken to increase public interest in participating in and following this Challenge? What messaging could we use to excite the public? Can you envision any specific demonstrations that would be exciting to the public? Part of this challenge will potentially be tested in a facility. Do you have any ideas on how to make that exciting? Part of this will be a “paper” submission, do you have any ideas on how to engage the public, including students? Competition Structure: Are the goals reasonable in relation to the schedule? Are the deadlines for Registration and Concept Design Submissions sufficient for forming a team and developing a submission? Competition Awards: NASA is considering awarding up to $5,000,000 USD in prizes awarded throughout the Challenge. How could the award structure best incentivize participation and technical progress? Is the prize money sufficient to incentivize potential competitors? NASA is considering inviting one or more winning teams to work with NASA after the end of the Challenge to design flight rated hardware for a flight and demonstration/ operation on the lunar surface. Would this be a valuable incentive to attract teams to participate in the Challenge? Please comment on the award distribution structure being considered. Are there alternative approaches that would provide greater incentives to compete? What types of incentives would be most valuable for you in competing? For example, prize purse, education, testing, association with NASA and/or the sponsors, etc.? Why are these valuable to you? d) Technical Requirements: Do the descriptions of the Mission Scenario and Mission Activities in the Phase 1 Rules Draft provide sufficient detail for potential teams to develop and submit a compelling concept design? If not, what additional details should be included? Are the technical performance goals too audacious? Not audacious enough? Are there any specific technical requirements that would dissuade an otherwise credible and competitive team from submitting? Are there additional performance attributes, such as minimizing resources, exceeding requirements, etc., that should be incentivized and rewarded? What Earth (terrestrial) applications do you would benefit from the technical requirements in this Challenge? Do you see any near-term Earth applications? Please comment on the Tentative Framework for Phase 2 Scoring Methodology described in Appendix A of the Phase 1 Rules Draft. e) Rules and Requirements: As currently drafted, are the Phase 1 Rules clear for: Eligibility? Concept design submission requirements? How submissions will be evaluated by the Judging Panel? RESPONSES TO THE RFI Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 7/24/2020 To: Ms. Denise P. Morris at e-mail address:
[email protected] CC:
[email protected] Subject Line: “Watts on the Moon Challenge RFI” Responses should be submitted in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format and are limited to five (5) pages in length. Responses should include name, address, email address, and phone number of the responding individual, business, or organization, with point of contact for business or organization. FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions or requests specific to this RFI may be submitted prior to the closing date To: Ms. Denise P. Morris at e-mail address:
[email protected] CC:
[email protected] Subject Line: “Watts on the Moon Challenge RFI” For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, Marshall Space Flight Center, email to
[email protected]. See attached for the Watts on the Moon Challenge Phase 1 Competition Rules