NASA has released a pre-solicitation summary for TechFlights 2023 [SAM.gov infolink], and anticipates a release of the solicitation on or about April 7, 2023.
The purpose of TechFlights is to provide funding for the rapid testing or demonstration of space technologies in relevant environments. Payloads may be tested aboard flights on U.S. commercial suborbital rockets, rocket-powered lander vehicles, high-altitude balloons, aircraft following reduced-gravity flight profiles, and orbital platforms.
Emphasis will be placed on decreasing the amount of time between award and flight testing with a goal of increasing the pace of technology development. Emphasis will also be placed on the overall impact to be achieved via the flight test awards made under this Appendix.
NASA’s Flight Opportunities program is, once again, joined in TechFlights by the Small Spacecraft Technology program.
In addition, the agency’s Science Mission Directorate is a partner in this solicitation to support development of transformative research capabilities with the commercial space industry to dramatically increase the pace of research.
Two topics are anticipated for this solicitation:
- Topic 1 addresses demonstration of capabilities that support global lunar use leading to commercial commodities and services for a robust lunar economy and/or demonstration of technologies for LEO to GEO that support additional future services for a growing LEO/GEO economy.
- Topic 2 addresses technologies that can support the Commercially Enabled Rapid Space Science (CERISS) initiative, which aims to develop transformative research capabilities with the commercial space industry to dramatically increase the pace of research.
Read the full synopsis for additional award details.
Visit the Flight Opportunities website for resources on proposing to TechFlights.