National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2006 Program Solicitations

Chapter 9.1.4

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9.1.4 SPACE OPERATIONS

In 2004, President Bush announced a new space exploration vision for America’s civil space program. “A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The President’s Vision for U. S. Space Exploration” included four objectives and the fifth objective added later:

  1. Implement a sustained and affordable human and robotic program to explore the solar system and beyond;
  2. Extend human presence across the solar system, starting with a human return to the Moon by the year 2020, in preparation for human exploration of Mars and other destinations;
  3. Develop the innovative technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures both to explore and to support decisions about the destinations for human exploration;
  4. Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests; and
  5. Study the Earth system from space and develop new space-based and related capabilities for this purpose.

In support of the NASA Vision for Space Exploration, the Space Operations Mission Directorate will marshal its efforts around a key transformation to enable the President’s vision. The role of the directorate will continue to involve operational capabilities for the agency and synergistically guide the development of certain operational systems such as communication systems. The Space Operations Mission Directorate provides the foundation for NASA’s space programs — space travel for human and robotic missions, in-space laboratories, and the means to return data to Earth. We provide space access for our customers with a high standard of safety, reliability, and affordability. The focus of the Space Operations Mission Directorate SBIR activity is to provide affordable communications for exploration and science and space access services. We go forward as explorers and as scientists to understand the universe in which we live.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf

TOPIC O1 Space Communications
O1.01 Coding, Modulation, and Compression
O1.02 Precision Spacecraft Navigation and Tracking
O1.03 Communication for Space-Based Range
O1.04 Antenna Technology for Spacecraft and Planetary Surface Vehicles
O1.05 Reconfigurable/Reprogrammable Communication Systems
O1.06 Extravehicular (EVA) Radios
O1.07 Transformational Communications Technology
O1.08 Long Range Optical Telecommunications
O1.09 Long Range Space RF Telecommunications
O1.10 Surface Networks and Orbit Access Links
O1.11 Software for Space Communications Infrastructure Operations

TOPIC O2 Space Transportation
O2.01 Automated Optical Tracking and Identification of Tumbling 3D Objects
O2.02 Space Transportation Propulsion System and Test Facility Requirements and Instrumentation
O2.03 Automated Collection and Transfer of Launch Range Surveillance/Intrusion Data

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