NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES PROGRAM Break the Ice Lunar Challenge REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
1. PROGRAM BACKGROUND The Centennial Challenges Program seeks to stimulate research and technology solutions to support NASA missions and inspire new national aerospace capabilities through public prize competitions. The program is an integral part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech.
2. SUMMARY The Centennial Challenges program is seeking input for a proposed Break the Ice Lunar Challenge competition expected to start no earlier than November 2020. The goal of the competition is to enable new solutions for autonomous lunar icy regolith excavation technologies. This Challenge will require competitors to develop solutions that meet minimum requirements and demonstrate robust performance in simulated lunar conditions at designated NASA (or other) test facilities. NASA’s ultimate goal is to incentivize lunar excavation solutions that could be adapted for operation on the lunar surface, while also advancing excavation technologies for terrestrial commercialization. This RFI seeks to: (1) gather feedback on the technical rules of the competition being considered; (2) gather feedback on the proposed prize amounts and distribution structure; and (3) determine the interest level in potentially competing in , judging, and partnering with NASA to support this challenge. Specific information sought is detailed in Sections 6-8. NASA welcomes all segments of the public, industry, academia, and government, including associations, innovators, makers and enthusiasts to reply to this RFI. This RFI is for informational/planning purposes only and the Government will not be responsible for any cost associated with preparing information in support of this RFI. This RFI is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into any agreement or other obligation or to conduct the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge. This notice is issued in accordance with the NASA Prize Authority, 51 U.S.C. § 20144. Responses may be made available for public review and should not include proprietary information. Submitted information will be shared within NASA and with contractor personnel associated with the NASA Centennial Challenges Program. All responses are to be for general access by government reviewers.
For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager,
Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, email to [email protected].
3. BACKGROUND
NASA is considering opening Break the Ice Lunar Challenge competition to incentivize solutions to address technology gaps in the icy regolith excavation and water delivery technologies that could help enable initial human presence on the Moon by 2024 and a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028. The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge seeks to incentivize innovative approaches for excavating icy regolith and delivering water in extreme lunar environments. The Challenge seeks to incentivize solutions for maximizing water delivery while minimizing energy use and the mass of equipment required to be transported to the lunar surface.
4. CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION
Break the Ice Lunar Challenge competition is expected to be performed in 2 phases, that will not exceed a total of 36 months. As NASA works to extend human exploration of the solar system, a sustained presence on the Moon will critical for developing and testing the technologies and systems needed for future missions to Mars and beyond. In situ resource utilization (ISRU)—the development of lunar materials for life support, fuel, energy, manufacturing, and construction—is necessary to limit the delivery of supplies from Earth.
One of the most important of these resources is water. Water supports all life on Earth, and will be critical to supporting human exploration beyond Earth. On the Moon, water is trapped in icy regolith at the lunar poles, including inside permanently dark and cold craters. NASA has identified key technology gaps related to excavation of icy regolith and delivery of water that could be addressed through a Challenge. These gaps include: • Excavation of large quantities of icy regolith • Delivery of large quantities of water • Hardware and equipment that is light weight and energy efficient • Hardware and equipment that is reliable and durable in extreme lunar environments, including: o Extreme cold and permanent or near-permanent darkness o Vacuum conditions o Dust levels found on the lunar surface o Reduced gravity
The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge seeks to incentivize innovative approaches for excavating icy regolith and delivering water in extreme lunar environments. The challenge seeks to incentivize
solutions for maximizing water delivery while minimizing the energy use and mass of equipment required to be transported to the lunar surface.
5. DRAFT CHALLENGE RULES AND COMPETITION STRUCTURE
Based upon responses to this RFI, NASA may update detailed written challenge rules (“Rules”). The final Rules would be the official specification of the competition structure.
Phase 1 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is focused on incentivizing new ideas and approaches to a system architecture for excavation and movement of icy regolith and water on the lunar surface. The Challenge describes a hypothetical Mission Scenario and asks Teams to design a system architecture design addressing necessary hardware, concept of operations, lunar environmental conditions, and specific performance analyses, as well as supporting materials that address credibility and feasibility of the design. The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge will have up to two phases, totaling no more than 36 months. In Phase 1, Teams will have approximately seven (7) months to register and submit a design. Phase 1, including approximately two (2) months of judging, will last a total of nine (9) months. Prize purse for Phase 1 will total up to $500,000. Table 1. Phase 1 Prize Purses 1st Place $125,000 2nd Place $75,000 3rd Place $50,000 Up to (10) Runners Up ($25,000 each) $250,000 Total $500,000
Following Phase 1, NASA may initiate a Phase 2 (prize purse up to $4.5 million) of the Challenge, which is expected to focus on designing and building excavation hardware components and/or systems that would be tested in simulated lunar conditions. Refer to the accompanying rules document to learn about the rules and requirements for Phase 1.
• Phase 1 Open Call for Registration o Objective: During the registration period, all interested competitors must register on the challenge website; complete the required forms; and meet all eligibility requirements as stated in the official rules in order to participate. o Duration: ~7 Months
• Phase 1: Participants will submit a system architecture and video o Objective: To identify a solution to excavation architecture at Lunar south pole.
o Competitors will provide: ▪ Detailed narrative and supporting illustrations, models, data, or other materials describing the elements listed in the rules document. ▪ Supporting visual representation of the technology (video). o Scoring: The design will be judged by a panel of experts using a pre-established set of requirements. o Awards: Prize purses for Phase 1 will total up to $500,000. Refer to the above table for Prize distribution. o Duration: 7 months (concurrent with Open Call for Registration)
6. INFORMATION SOUGHT FROM COMMENTERS
This RFI seeks feedback on the anticipated competition structure, the prize amounts and distribution structure, and level of interest in competing in the challenge. Feedback relative to interest in competing in the competition will influence the decision to proceed forward in formulation and development of this challenge. Responses on all sections are not required, but more information will help with the overall formulation of the challenge. Specific requested information is as follows:
a) Interest and Readiness: • Are you interested in participating as a competitor in this competition? o What type of skills do you think your team would need to compete? ▪ If you do not have the skills you think you need, where would you recruit individuals and/or organizations with those skills? o Do you have a relevant production system ready or nearly ready to participate in this Challenge? ▪ If yes, what level of development and investment is needed before your system is ready to participate in the Challenge? • Would you or your organization be interested in participating as a judge or event partner (if not interested in competing)? • What barriers limit your interest or ability to participate? How can these barriers be addressed in the timelines, requirements and formulation of this Challenge? • Are there specific emerging breakthrough technologies that are applicable to the Challenge goals? • What actions could be taken to increase public interest in participating in and following this Challenge? o What messaging could we use to excite the public? Can you envision any specific demonstrations that would be exciting to the public? • Part of this challenge will potentially be tested in a facility. Do you have any ideas on how to make that exciting?
b) Competition Structure: • Are the goals reasonable in relation to the schedule? • Are the deadlines for Registration and system architecture Submissions sufficient for forming a team and developing a submission?
c) Competition Awards: • NASA is considering awarding $500,000 in Phase 1 and a total of up to $5,000,000 USD in prizes awarded throughout the Challenge. How could the award structure best incentivize participation and technical progress? • Are there alternative nonmonetary activities (e.g., discussions with NASA subject matter experts, use of NASA testing facilities, road shows, education, association with NASA or the sponsors, etc.) that would provide sufficient incentives to compete? d) Technical Requirements: • Do the descriptions in the Draft Phase 1 Rules provide sufficient detail for potential teams to develop and submit a compelling system architecture? If not, what additional details should be included? • Are the technical performance goals too audacious? Not audacious enough? • Are there any specific technical requirements that would dissuade an otherwise credible and competitive team from submitting? • Are there additional performance attributes, such as minimizing resources, exceeding requirements, etc., that should be incentivized and rewarded? • What Earth (terrestrial) applications do you think would benefit from the technical requirements in this Challenge? Do you see any near-term Earth applications? • Please comment on the Tentative Framework for Phase 2 Scoring Methodology described in Appendix A of the Draft Phase 1 Rules. e) Rules and Requirements: • As currently drafted, are the Draft Phase 1 Rules clear for: o Eligibility? o System architecture submission requirements? o How submissions will be evaluated by the Judging Panel?
7. RESPONSES TO THE RFI
Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 9/29/2020
To: Ms. Monsi Roman at e-mail address: [email protected] CC: [email protected] Subject Line: “Break the Ice Lunar Challenge RFI”
Responses should be submitted in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format and are limited to five (5) pages in length. Responses should include name, address, email address, and phone number of the responding individual, business, or organization, with point of contact for business or organization.
8. FURTHER INFORMATION:
Questions or requests specific to this RFI may be submitted prior to the closing date
To: Ms. Monsi Roman at e-mail address: [email protected] CC: [email protected] Subject Line: “Break the Ice Lunar Challenge RFI”
For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, Marshall Space Flight Center, email to [email protected].