NEW YORK: NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking ideas from American companies for a spacecraft design that could be used for both the agency’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) and a robotic satellite servicing mission in low-Earth orbit.
In the early-2020s NASA plans to launch the Asteroid Redirect Mission, which will use a robotic spacecraft to capture a large boulder from the surface of a near-Earth asteroid and move it into a stable orbit around the moon for exploration by astronauts, all in support of advancing the nation’s journey to Mars.
NASA also has been studying the “Restore-L” mission concept, during which a spacecraft would use dexterous robotic systems to grapple and refuel a government satellite in low-Earth orbit. Restore-L would bring to operational status capabilities needed for future commercial satellite servicing by demonstrating technologies and reducing risk.
“Today’s call for ideas from our industry partners is another important milestone for the Asteroid Redirect Mission, a critical capability demonstration mission that’s part of our stepping stone approach for sending American astronauts to Mars in the 2030s,” said NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot. “As part of our acquisition strategy, we’re asking for more information toward the ARM spacecraft concept and also on commonality with a notional robotic satellite servicing spacecraft.”
The RFI is not a request for proposal or formal procurement and therefore is not a solicitation or commitment by the government. Deadline for submissions is 45 days after public posting of the RFI. The full RFI is available here.
Following its rendezvous and touchdown with the target asteroid, the uncrewed ARM spacecraft will deploy robotic arms to capture a large boulder from its surface. It then will begin a multi-year journey to redirect the boulder into orbit around the moon.
