National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2007 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 five objectives:

  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.
The Space Operations Mission Directorate provides the foundation for NASA’s space programs — space travel for human and robotic missions, in-space laboratories, processing and operations of space systems, and the means to return data to the Earth. The role of the directorate is to provide the operational capabilities for the Agency. These capabilities must continue to evolve synergistically with the directorate guiding the development and enhancement of operational systems (e.g. communications, launch range safety and on-board operations). As the Agency moves forward, future spacecraft and missions that must be integrated into the evolving operational capability and have the potential to vary in size and complexity from micro satellites to manned missions. We provide space access for our customers with a high standard of safety, reliability, and affordability. In support of the President's Vision for Space Exploration, the Space Operations Mission Directorate will marshal its SBIR efforts around a key enabling transformational technology: Affordable communications for exploration, science and space access services and operations. 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 and Navigation
O1.01 Coding, Modulation, and Compression
O1.02 Precision Spacecraft and Lunar/Planetary Surface Navigation and Tracking
O1.03 Communication for Space-Based Range
O1.04 Antenna Technology
O1.05 Reconfigurable/Reprogrammable Communication Systems
O1.06 Miniaturized Digital EVA Radio
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 Optical Tracking and Image Analysis
O2.02 Space Transportation Propulsion System and Test Facility Requirements and Instrumentation
O2.03 Automated Collection and Transfer of Launch Range Surveillance/Intrusion Data

TOPIC O3 Processing and Operations
O3.01 Crew Health and Safety Including Medical Operations
O3.02 In-helmet Speech Audio Systems and Technologies
O3.03 Vehicle Integration and Ground Processing
O3.04 Mission Operations

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