The Arachne Spacecraft Bus Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the responsibilities, deliverables, and quality requirements for the subcontractor involved in the Arachne project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The SOW specifies that the subcontractor must design, manufacture, integrate, and test the spacecraft bus and support its payload integration and launch operations. The document emphasizes compliance with a variety of established standards and procedures, including quality assurance protocols, thermal design criteria, and rigorous testing requirements. Key deliverables include three spacecraft buses, integrated observatories, and an End Item Data Package documenting the assembly and testing results. Several critical design and process reviews (such as Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review) outline required presentations and documentation. Additionally, the subcontractor must ensure adherence to stringent quality and traceability standards, maintaining communication with LLNL throughout various project phases. This SOW serves to ensure project alignment with federal requirements while supporting national interests in advanced aerospace technology.

The ARACHNE Bus Specification document outlines the technical requirements for designing and manufacturing a commercial vendor bus to interface with a Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) furnished payload, creating an Observatory. The document details various functional and performance criteria, including orbit specifications, operational lifetimes, fault management, payload interfaces, and electrical power systems. Key sections include requirements for telemetry, command, and data handling, as well as specifications for flight software and telecommunications. Thermal and mechanical conditions, along with reliability and radiation tolerance requirements, are also emphasized to ensure the bus functions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines and parameters for vendors aiming to meet government standards in the aerospace sector, ensuring the Observatory's successful operation during its mission lifecycle. This specification is critical for government RFPs and grants, establishing performance benchmarks essential for technical compliance in future contracts.

The Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) regarding the selection of a spacecraft bus in support of its proposal to NASA's Astrophysics Small Satellite Explorers (SMEX) Program. This RFI aims to gather preliminary cost estimates and technical details for the development of spacecraft intended to accommodate a LLNS-provided telescope. The mission is projected for a launch in June/July 2025, with potential contract awards in early 2026 and initial operations in 2026-2027. Key specifications include a requirement for boresight stability in the spacecraft bus, with up to three spacecraft potentially launching simultaneously into a 700km sun-synchronous orbit. Vendors are asked to provide cost estimates covering non-recurring and recurring engineering phases, technical details on spacecraft capabilities, and support for integrating and testing the payload. The document emphasizes adherence to NASA guidelines for proposal submissions, including detailed cost estimation, project management practices, and technical requirements necessary for successful launch and operational readiness. This RFI denotes LLNS's strategic planning phase, signaling potential future opportunities for selected vendors in aerospace development within the realm of astrophysics exploration.