Spacecraft Reboost Capabilities RFI Released by NASA

NASA is seeking interest in demonstrating commercial satellite reboost capabilities and is considering utilizing the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for a demonstration in the next few years. Partners would be expected to participate and undertake this mission on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. Should NASA decide to pursue this demonstration, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) would provide technical information and technical consultation with HST experts to facilitate rendezvous, docking, and reboost. Any participant would be expected to provide all other resources, including the launch vehicle, spacecraft, crew if applicable to the approach, and mission operations except for HST operations during the mission, necessary to successfully perform the demonstration.

Partners must be U.S. based entities.

NASA, other federal agencies, and commercial entities have a growing number of aging on-orbit scientific satellites, and therefore an increasing need to service, re-locate, de-orbit, dispose of or otherwise manage them at the completion of their missions. With a growing commercial space industry developing and maturing space technologies and capabilities, NASA seeks to partner with commercial entities to demonstrate reboost capabilities to operate and provide in-space services. As an example, HST, in low earth orbit, continues to produce outstanding science since its launch in 1990. Its current altitude is approximately 335 miles. The spacecraft is predicted to reach 310 miles in approximately 2025, at which point there is a risk that rendezvous would be more difficult. HST is predicted to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere in the mid 2030’s unless it is reboosted to a higher orbit before that timeframe.

Reboost Capabilities RFI Parameters

Responses should include a description of the reboost capabilities concept of operations, including technical approaches for conducting a demonstration, length of docked period, number of burns, and amount of boost expected, as well as demonstrated capabilities to support the concept of operations, an assessment of the risk to HST, and the likelihood of success.

Any public discussion of the results of this RFI may disclose information about the identities of the respondents.

This RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal, nor is it an Invitation for Bid. This RFI is being used to promote competition and to obtain information for market research and planning purposes only, and the Government does not intend to enter into an implementation arrangement at this time. Responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding implementation arrangement. This RFI is subject to review or cancellation at any time and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into an implementation arrangement. The Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this request.

All responses must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on January 24, 2023.

(Source: NASA. Images from file)