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NASA is seeking information on potential partnerships, scientific advice, innovative approaches, and hardware construction for the Orbiting Configurable Artificial Star (ORCAS) mission concept. The OR... NASA is seeking information on potential partnerships, scientific advice, innovative approaches, and hardware construction for the Orbiting Configurable Artificial Star (ORCAS) mission concept. The ORCAS mission concept is being explored to be prepared to respond to both near-term and long-term future opportunities. The ORCAS would be a combination of a satellite carrying an artificial star, with ground-based adaptive optics instruments and photometric calibration systems. The satellite will carry a laser beacon to enable high-performance adaptive optics for astronomy at visible wavelengths, as well as photometric targets to enable sub-1% accuracy absolute photometric calibration of existing standard star networks and current and future telescope systems. The ORCAS is planned to work with the W.M. Keck observatory, but the concept could be applied to all observatories. Specifically, the following types of responses are sought: 1. Concepts and designs for the development of the Adaptive Optics (AO) Laser source; 2. Concepts and designs for the development of the Flux calibration source; 3. Concepts and designs for the spacecraft bus; 4. Scientific advice for the adaptive optics systems and photometric calibration systems; 5. US and international partnerships, capable of providing access to other observatories and instrument systems. This Request for Information (RFI) is open to all types of organizations, including individuals, U.S. industry, universities, nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, other U. S. Government agencies, and international organizations. Please see attachment for full details.