NASA’s Low Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) effort establishes the infrastructure for proving and demonstrating advanced optical communications technologies and capabilities. The driving objective is to design an optical communication ground system architecture with the flexibility to support a range of use cases while leveraging industry capabilities to the maximum extent possible. LCOT is a resource that can be made available to industry partners to assist in optical communication space and ground terminal developments. The purpose of this RFI is to gauge industry’s perspective and interest in utilizing the LCOT as a test asset for optical communications and/or industry’s interest in deploying a copy of the LCOT. NASA’s LCOT serves as a blueprint for implementing optical communications into space communications networks. Previous optical communications terminals developed by NASA contained custom-build optical hardware or adapted commercial components specifically for a single mission. Efforts like LCOT seek to change this paradigm by cultivating relationships with commercial vendors to build components needed to implement an end-to-end optical system. LCOT uses commercial off-the-shelf or slightly modified hardware to reduce expense and speed implementation of optical ground stations. Procuring commercial off-the-shelf hardware is far easier than building custom optical terminals for missions. NASA’s Goal The goal of this RFI is to understand how the LCOT can assist industry with transitioning optical communications into an operational utility. In particular, NASA is interested in the following types of potential industry engagement: Flight demonstrations with the LCOT in the next 3 to 5 years Flight demonstrations could include, but not limited to: on-orbit spacecraft (no size restriction) ranging from LEO to Lunar distances, science balloon experiments, aircraft, etc. A minimum distance of 30km is the goal for a flight demonstration NASA has several potential options available (at the responder’s cost) for performing long distance optical communications including a P-3 Orion and a C-17 that could be flown out of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility over the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory (GGAO), located near Goddard Space Flight Center. Easily reprogrammable equipment (e.g., software defined, or easily replaceable personality cards) that will allow different coding, modulation schemes, and different data rates to be demonstrated is highly desirable Demonstrations must include the ability to close a tracking loop between the flight element and the ground station and perform robust point-ahead and tracking Ground equipment demonstrations with the LCOT in the next 3 to 5 years Ground equipment demonstrations could include, but not limited to: Transceiver, Amplifier, Adaptive Optics, Transmit Telescope Assembly, etc. Easily reprogrammable equipment (e.g., software defined, or easily replaceable personality cards) that will allow different coding, modulation schemes, and different data rates to be demonstrated is highly desirable Identify opportunities for commercial technology infusion for future iterations of the LCOT design Request for Information Questions to be answered: Would you be interested completing a demonstration using the LCOT? If so, what kind of demonstration would you be interested in? If not, what changes could be made to the LCOT so that it better serves your needs? What optical communications space terminals (or instruments) would benefit from an on-orbit demonstration with the LCOT at GGAO within the next 3-5 years? What optical communications ground equipment (or instruments) would benefit from a demonstration with the LCOT within the next 3-5 years? What roadblocks or hindrances do you see to transitioning optical communications into an operational utility? What components do you see as having a near-term (3-5 years) obsolescence risk? As technology advances, how do you plan to address potential obsolescence of key components and software? Additional Questions: In the RFI response, please identify if you are interested in providing: Flight systems and ground systems Only flight systems Only ground systems In the RFI response, please identify all communications interfaces NASA would need to be aware of to utilize your equipment. In the RFI response, please identify all software products that would be used. Use of industry standard software for flight and ground elements is desirable. In the RFI response, please provide data that supports the capability to demonstrate robust communications in turbulent, dusty, and light cloud cover. The responder is free to define the details as they apply to their system. In the RFI response, please provide link budget and simulation data for the optical communications link under conditions of cloud free line of sight, light clouds, turbulent air, and light dust. The responder is free to define the details as they apply to their system. In the RFI response, please provide the country of origin for all products to be used. In the RFI response, please identify any team arrangements that exist and the domicile of the team members. Applicable Documents: LCOT Additional Information Information Submittals: Organizations interested in providing the above information should submit the information in 5 pages or less, (excluding brochures) to the address shown below by March 6, 2023. Use single space, 12 –point, Times New Roman format. The following file naming convention should be used: Optical Communications_RFI_company name.doc. For example, Ford would name its file Optical Communications _RFI_Ford.doc. Authorized file formats include: PDF Although all submissions received will be carefully reviewed and considered for inclusion in any possible later action, NASA does not commit to adopt or include any particular recommendations in a subsequent document (e.g., a solicitation). Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in the Sam.gov. It is the responsibility of potential offerors/bidders to regularly monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. Response Submission Deadline: Interested parties that currently possess assets that align with the requests noted in this document should respond to Ruma Das at
[email protected] for more technical details concerning this activity. Responses to this RFI must be submitted to Dr. Ruma Das (
[email protected]) and Jeffrey Brown (
[email protected]) no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time, on March 6, 2023. RFI submissions will be accepted as email attachments only. Point of Contact: Jeffrey Brown, Contract Specialist, Program Support Procurement Office (
[email protected]) Dr. Ruma Das, Deputy Chief, Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies (CIS) Office (
[email protected])