NASA Issues Request for Information on Heavy-Lift Vehicle

Heavy Lift Launch System and Propulsion Technology Request for Information (RFI)
Issued by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

I. Background/Objective

NASA has requirements for heavy lift launch to extend human and robotic presence throughout the solar system. NASA desires to enable exploration of multiple potential destinations, including the Moon, asteroids, Lagrange points, and Mars and its environs in the most cost effective and safe manner. NASA is in the planning phase to develop strategies for enabling a heavy lift launch system. At the same time, NASA desires to develop liquid chemical propulsion technologies to support a more affordable and robust space transportation industry.This approach will strengthen Americas space industry, and could provide a catalyst for future business ventures to capitalize on affordable access to space. It will also leverage a broader range of American ingenuity to keep our nation on the leading edge of human space exploration capabilities.

II. Market Research

Industry involvement early in the development phase is essential for NASA to formulate a strategy to meet the national objectives of enabling heavy lift systems and developing propulsion technologies that are both affordable and used by multiple customers. Any resulting acquisition approach will utilize these guiding principles:

a. Focus on affordability and low development and recurring costs
b. Maximize competition
c. Satisfy multiple users inside and outside of NASA
d. Apply the appropriate set of performance measures and incentives.
e. Leverage existing industry programs.
f. Review all requirements from a zero-based approach.
g. Maximize the use of small businesses

III. Inputs

Using the information above with the overall goal is to provide heavy lift systems and propulsion technologies that are both safe and affordable and will serve multiple customers. NASA is inviting industry, academia, Internationals and other non-Government research organizations to provide inputs in the following specific areas:

1. Propulsion Systems

a. Provide information regarding your potential launch or space transportation architectures (expendable, reusable, or a hybrid system) that could meet multiple customer needs (e.g., NASA, DoD, and Commercial). Describe potential reference missions. Describe the engine or engines required to meet your requirements to include those for different stages and potential in-space utilization. Outline known development efforts and technology insertion; sharing of information, sharing of facilities; etc.

b. For vehicle providers, provide your top-level requirements including: operability and affordability (low life cycle cost); safety (minimize catastrophic failures, loss of vehicle, etc.), and performance (thrust, ISP, throttle range if any, mass to LEO/GTO,etc.), both current and future upgrade plans. Provide rationale as to how these requirements were derived.

c. Identify strategies to lower propulsion system costs and improve operability including overhead; improved manufacturing processes; lower staffing; and elimination/tailoring of specific Government requirements.

d. Describe methods to effectively manage to a lower per production unit cost (for example, lot buys, design to cost, cost incentive structures, non-traditional business arrangements, anticipated business, sensitivity to business base, etc.).

e. Describe how you would leverage any existing efforts to include hardware, designs,analysis, and facilities to save cost and accelerate schedules.

f. Describe potential acquisition strategies for enabling development of large propulsion systems and pros and cons of the strategies.

2. Basic Propulsion Research

a. Provide general areas where you believe gaps exist in liquid chemical propulsion technologies that could lead to breakthroughs in mission affordability and capability. Liquid chemical propulsion technologies include discipline-focused research into such things as materials, manufacturing, combustion processes, propellant chemistry, and other propulsion system elements (such as tanks, valves, feed lines, and health management). Identify strategies for insertion of these technologies in new propulsion systems and also how to make them available to the Industry for multiple applications.

b. Describe methods to effectively manage the strategies for technology insertions,including non-traditional business arrangements.

c. Identify how you would plan to bring existing mid-level Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) to operational levels at an affordable cost through test programs, ground demonstrations, and flight demonstrations.

d. Describe how you would envision working with multiple customers (including DoD, NASA,and commercial) to identify top priority technologies and their associated payoffs.

e. Describe approaches for utilizing the unique capabilities of our nations colleges and universities in addressing technology gaps, including identification of gaps these academic institutions may be uniquely qualified to address. Discussion may include a vision for the development of the next generation of scientists and engineers in the space launch propulsion arena through outreach, partnerships, and direct involvement in the technology program.

f. Describe how you would leverage any existing efforts to include hardware, designs,analysis, and facilities to save cost and accelerate schedule. Identify any existing assets in which you require or obtain benefit to support the technology maturation in a timely, affordable, and efficient manner.

3. Program and Business Management

NASA is seeking Industry inputs into methods to manage these programs to include effective and affordable business practices.

a. Describe processes for the overall management of the program to most effectively develop propulsion systems and technologies.

b. How would you propose to participate in systems analysis and assessments?

c. How would you propose to serve in an advisory capacity for the program providing input on content and objectives and evaluation of performance and results?

d. Identify barriers to competition and mitigation strategies.

e. Discuss procurement approaches to include alternative business arrangements.

f. Discuss effective methods of utilizing international partnerships while maintaining appropriate safeguards for U.S. developed technologies.

g. Recommend process improvements and efficiencies, both in the acquisition phase as well as the performance phase, along with identification of non-value added steps and requirements.