1. Summary : The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is requesting information that would advance the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) science and applications objectives. The following data or information on a VSWIR Imaging Spectroscopy (VSWIR-IS) instrument is specifically sought: Data from a small satellite constellation, operational or in development Information on data or a concept for a single instrument (operational or in development) that would complement the SBG VSWIR-IS/TIR constellation Information on a concept for a new VSWIR-IS instrument where multiple copies can be manifested on a number of small satellites in a possible, future constellation The resulting data should allow for cross-calibration with the SBG VSWIR-IS Free-Flyer mission envisioned to launch in the 2027-2028 timeframe. This Request for Information (RFI) is open to all organizations. 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 in the furnishing of this information. Respondents will not be notified of the results of evaluation. 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 18 August 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. Detailed spacecraft concepts are not solicited in this RFI. Respondents with both a spacecraft concept and an instrument concept should respond to this RFI with the instrument concept and to the mission concept RFI, 80ARC022-SBG-RFI, available at SAM.gov. 2. 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 nation’s 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. government’s 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. 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 VSWIR-IS instrument, 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 attached Table 1. Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) Objectives]. Scientific details on the SBG observable can be found in the Decadal Survey ( https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/decadal-surveys ), at the JPL SBG website ( https://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/ ), and in the SATM ( https://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/satm ). The SBG Science and Applications Traceability Matrix (SATM) follows the National Academies 2017 decadal survey directions for desired capabilities. SBG VSWIR-IS Instrument Performance The instrument concepts and/or data from the constellation pathfinder requested in this RFI are expected to enhance, replace, or complement some or all of the capabilities of the main SBG VSWIR-IS instrument. For reference, the key performance parameters for the SBG VSWIR-IS instrument are: Spectral Range: 400-2500 nm Spectral Bands: ≤10 nm with continuous spectral coverage, 210+ bands Radiometric and Signal to noise (SNR) performance: SNR ≥400 VNIR and SNR ≥250 SWIR at 25% reflectance, <5% absolute radiometric uncertainty with high uniformity, low stray-light, and low polarization sensitivity needed to meet key science objectives Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) at nadir: 30 m Revisit Period: ≤16 days at the equator Coverage: All global land, inland waters, and coastal oceans Local Time for Acquisition: Between 10:30 to 11:30 AM Stability and duration: Measurements must be able to detect long term changes for addressing dynamics of the Earth System over the prime mission lifetime of 3 years with possible extensions 3. Information Requested: This RFI is limited to constellation pathfinder concepts that could provide overlapping data with the main SBG concepts, currently expected to launch not earlier than 2026. The data could be generated as part of a single spacecraft carrying a VSWIR-IS instrument complementing the SBG constellation or a set of VSWIR-IS instruments on a small satellite constellation. It may be the result of operational assets, currently planned investments by the interested parties, or new instrument developments. Responses to this RFI should include: Organization information : Organization name and address, point of contact name, e-mail address, phone number. Abstract : Provide a brief summary of the Constellation Pathfinder VSWIR-IS instrument concept or the data from current instrument investments. If providing information on a new instrument concept: Description of the instrument concept , including, as applicable: Key performance specifications (a) through (h) above and, if applicable, notional mission design Instrument design, including data rate to spacecraft (S/C), notional MEL, PEL, and volume, and any special requirements or capabilities (thermal requirements, pointing, stability, etc.) Approach to instrument manufacturability, including timeline (e.g., prototype, then multiple copies, instrument suite integrated to existing assembly-line bus, etc.) If applicable, new technology needed and associated Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) Any special or unique S/C requirements. Approach to cross-calibration with the SBG system. Risks and assumptions : Main technical and programmatic risks to the instrument concept, as well as suggested mitigations. If providing information on data resulting from current instrument investments: Description of the data , including, as applicable: Description and status of the spacecraft(s) that generated/will generate it. Key performance system specifications ((a) through (h), above) If the constellation is not operational now, main technical and programmatic risks to its sucess, as well as suggested mitigations. Approach to cross-calibration with the SBG system. In all cases: Relevance to the Mission: The response should address how data from, or information about, a small satellite VSWIR-IS instrument addresses: (1) the objectives shown in Table 1, (2) the science and applications requirements [ http://sbg.jpl.nasa.gov/satm ]. Cost Estimate: A rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) estimate for the instrument concept or data set, including NRE costs if applicable. Technical or Policy barriers : Identified technical or policy barriers (e.g., NASA’s open data policy as it pertains to commercially-sensitive ancillary data needed to generate and validate science data products) Disclaimer: It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and informational purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment to enter into a contractual agreement. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. 4. Response Instructions : The responses to this RFI are limited to no more than 15 pages, and should be submitted via e-mail to
[email protected] by August 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time (PDT). The subject line of the submission should be Response to Constellation VSWIR-IS Instrument 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.