The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is planning for the procurement of a Spacecraft Bus to host the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) Visible to Shortwave Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VSWIR-IS) Instrument. The purpose of this request is to help inform the SBG Team in preparation for the Pre-Acquisition Strategy Meeting with NASA Headquarters and Earth Science Division (ESD). This Request for Information (RFI) is open to all U.S. organizations. Interested parties having the required capabilities necessary to meet the requirements described herein should submit a capability statement of no more than 15 pages to
[email protected] by 9/3/2021, indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort. Only material suitable for full and open distribution shall be submitted and submittals shall be considered approved by the providing organization to be suitable for full and open distribution. No proprietary, export controlled, classified, or sensitive material should be provided in either abstracts or presentations. Disclaimer: The requested information is for preliminary planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that JPL will solicit you for such a procurement in the future. Neither JPL nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred by you in the furnishing of this information. Respondents will not be notified of the results of evaluation. SBG Background The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conduct Decadal Surveys that sample thoroughly the research interests, aspirations, and needs of a scientific community. Through a rigorous process, a primary survey committee and thematic panels of community members construct a prioritized program of science goals and objectives and define an executable strategy for achieving them. These reports play a critical role in defining the nations agenda in that science area for the following 10 years. In December 2018, the second decadal survey in Earth science and applications from space (ESAS 2017) was completed and the final report Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space was issued. The surveys overarching task was to generate recommendations for the environmental monitoring and Earth science and applications communities for an integrated and sustainable approach to the conduct of the U.S. governments civilian space-based Earth-system science programs. The interpretation of this charge resulted in recommendations that would, within known constraints such as anticipated budgets, advance Earth system science and deliver critical information to support a broad range of needs. See http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DEPS/ESAS2017/index.htm In May 2021, NASA reported that it will create a new set of Earth-focused missions. Each of the satellites in the Earth System Observatory (ESO) are designed to complement one another to create a holistic view of the Earth. The observatory follows the recommendations of the National Academies 2017 decadal survey. SBG is one of five focus areas and will enable improved understanding of climate changes that impact food and agriculture, habitation, and natural resources, by answering open questions about the fluxes of carbon, water, nutrients, and energy within and between ecosystems and the atmosphere, the ocean, and the Earth. The SBG architecture will be centered around two free-flying spacecraft, one hosting a wide-swath global mapping Visible to Shortwave Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VSWIR-IS) instrument ( the subject of this RFI ), and the other hosting a wide-swath global mapping Thermal Infrared (TIR) instrument paired with a multi-band Visible to Near-Infrared (VNIR) instrument contributed by a foreign space agency. The National Academies 2017 decadal survey has identified five (5) Most Important and seven (7) Very Important objectives for SBG [see Table 1. Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) Objectives ], attached. Spacecraft Purpose and ConOps The primary purpose of the SBG VSWIR spacecraft is to host and support the SBG VSWIR-IS instrument as the sole instrument on the platform. The VSWIR-IS instrument is a wide field of view, nadir push broom hyperspectral imager sensitive from 400nm – 2500nm. The primary concept of operations requires a spacecraft flying in a 600 km 96° inclination sun-synchronous orbit to point and hold the instruments rectangular FOV to nadir and perpendicular to the velocity vector with moderate pointing precision and very good stability. From this attitude, the spacecraft should be able to communicate with ground stations via X and Ka antennas, without disrupting instrument operations. Monthly, the spacecraft will slew the instrument FOV across the moon to acquire instrument calibration data. The spacecraft should be capable of supporting instrument thermal and power demands across short eclipse periods possible in equinox geometries and protect from pointing the instrument FOV at the sun at all times. Spacecraft Maturity and Reliability Interested parties are encouraged to describe the technical maturity and supporting basis for their proposed Spacecraft. Suitable spacecraft candidates must be no less than Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 by the Spacecraft Preliminary Design Review (PDR). TRL definitions can be found in the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, and they apply to the relevant, intended environment (e.g., spacecraft demonstrated in a spaceflight environment). The Spacecraft shall conform to Risk Classification C as defined in NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8705.4A, Risk Classification for NASA Payloads. Interested parties are also encouraged to provide data or information to support a prime mission of at least 3 years. Mission Orbit and Launch Vehicle Compatibility RFI responders should consider the following orbit requirements: Orbit type: Earth Sun-synchronous Orbit altitude: 600 km – 700 km Observation local time: 10:30a – 11:30a Primary mission duration: 3 years Compatibility with a maximum number of launch vehicles to the orbit described above is appreciated. The ideal spacecraft would be compatible with most existing domestic and foreign medium sized launch vehicles. Please also discuss compatibility and constraints for ride share options, either as the primary payload or as a secondary payload element. Instrument Accommodation Needs The attached Table 2. Instrument Accommodation Requirements has been developed to communicate current best estimate hosting requirements and provide a place to document spacecraft CBE capability. We also request feedback as to whether any particular hosting requirement is particularly challenging and drives the spacecraft design or cost. Operability Considerations JPL is interested in reducing the long-term cost and complexity of operating our spacecraft. To that end, JPL encourages responders to consider operability during spacecraft design. Please discuss spacecraft capability to support the following operability topics: Standardized telemetry format allowing channelization – Spacecraft telemetry should support a standard format (e.g., CCSDS) that allows telemetry virtual channelization. At least 8 virtual channels is preferred. Data Storage Partitioning and Prioritization – Spacecraft bulk data storage should be dividable into partitions and collected data/telemetry should be routable to commanded partitions. Partition size should be flexible and reconfigurable via ground command. Downlink Prioritization – Spacecraft should be capable of prioritizing downlink based on telemetry channels or data storage partition. Prioritization should be modifiable via ground command. Multi-Process Support – Spacecraft computer should support multiple simultaneous processing threads, allowing parallel execution of several tasks over extended periods of time. Some threads should be dedicated to instrument operations. Command Execution Timing – Spacecraft should accept commands for immediate execution, future execution based on spacecraft time, or scripts allowing limited logic to execute predefined commands based on telemetry conditions. Simultaneous Downlink – Spacecraft should support simultaneous transmission on all available downlink frequencies and polarizations (e.g., simultaneous downlink on left- and right- circular polarized Ka-band while transmitting in S- or X-band). Simultaneous Downlink During Instrument Observations – The spacecraft should support data downlink during instrument data acquisition. Retransmission Support – Spacecraft should support transmission of stored data from any addressable location of bulk data storage at any time. First-in-first-out data transmission strategy should not be assumed. Spacecraft should manage a read pointer to allow simple resumption of data transmission from a given partition on each pass. Cost Estimate and Schedule SBG is cost-constrained. The SBG team requests a rough-order-of-magnitude estimate on the total cost. For purposes of cost estimation and planning, interested parties should consider award of the Spacecraft Phase A (start-up) contract no early than the Summer of 2022. Award of a Spacecraft delivery contract should occur sometime in Phase B for Phases C-F. Phase B is expected to start no earlier than the Summer of 2023. The respondent should assume that the instrument will be delivered to the spacecraft provider for integration & testing at the observatory-level, delivery to the launch site for launch, and a follow-on period for on-orbit checkout. This RFI is limited to Spacecraft that can feasibly be delivered by 2026, in time for a launch readiness date no later than 2028. Response Content Requirements Spacecraft Response due by 9/3/2021 Please provide the following information to
[email protected] : Organization information: Organization name and address, point(s)-of-contact name(s), e-mail address(es), and phone number(s). Abstract: Provide a brief summary of the Spacecraft architecture. Spacecraft: Describe the Spacecraft architecture in detail, including technical resource estimates. Describe the capability of the command and data handling system, attitude and articulation control, telecommunications system, power system, and instrument interface options. Describe any opportunities to increase power system capabilities or data storage and handling capabilities (including tradeoffs). Implementation approach: Outline the approach and timeline for implementing and testing the SBG VSWIR Spacecraft. Technology evolution or infusion: Describe the aspects of the system that may evolve over the lifetime of the program and provide plans for how technology will be tested to maintain the projects risk posture. Spacecraft cost estimate: Provide a rough order-of-magnitude (ROM) estimate of the cost to build the Spacecraft with accompanying assumptions and rationale (for reference purposes only). Spacecraft responses are limited to no more than 15 pages, and should be submitted via e-mail by 9/3/2021 at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time (PDT). The subject line of the submission should be Response to SBG DDC-2671-VSWIR-SPACECRAFT RFI and attachments should be in PDF format. Files should not be greater than 15MB in size. The information is requested for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled Solicitation for Information for Planning Purposes. DISCLAIMER: It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the SBG team pay for information solicited. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation.