NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) issued a Partnership Opportunity Announcement (POA) for collaboration on developing a spacecraft bus for the Heliophysics Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) program. The POA is intended for selecting a partner to assist in the mission concept proposal, primarily focusing on the spacecraft bus and observatory integration. Key dates include the proposal submission deadline on December 20, 2024, and the anticipated final Announcement of Opportunity (AO) release in Q4 FY2025.
The partnership aims to streamline the development process, with initial costs capped at $300 million for the comprehensive mission, which includes testing, integration, and operations over 2 years. The selected partner will provide resources for various phases, including assistance in proposal writing, conducting studies, and contributing to the design and development of the bus and observatory.
The evaluation criteria emphasize technical approach (30%), cost (40%), and prior experience (30%). Respondents must submit proposals in a specified format, demonstrating their capabilities and previous relevant experience. The importance of this partnership lies in enhancing NASA's heliophysics research by understanding solar and space environment interactions, ultimately contributing to societal safety and space exploration.
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has issued a Partnership Opportunity Announcement (POA) for partners to provide a spacecraft bus for the Heliophysics Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) program. This collaboration aims to support a proposed mission concept that will be part of an upcoming NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO) anticipated in Q4 FY2025. The selected partners will assist in developing a mission concept report and providing integration and testing of the spacecraft bus.
The planned project includes multiple phases, starting with pre-selection support, followed by a Phase A concept study culminating in a detailed Concept Study Report (CSR). The maximum project value is estimated to be $300M, including a $3M cap for the initial concept study. Respondents are required to demonstrate their technical capabilities, past performance, and provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate.
The Heliophysics Explorer Program aims to enhance understanding of solar phenomena and their connections to the Earth and beyond. The process is designed to ensure thorough evaluation based on technical approach, cost efficiency, and relevant experience. Interested parties should submit proposals by January 24, 2025, with partnership selection expected shortly thereafter.