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Webinar Date Wednesday August 6, 2025; 2:00-3:00 PM ET Submit Questions to: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/ae8r/#!/dashboard Register for Webinar: https://nasaevents.webex.com/weblink/register/rd7efb34c... Webinar Date Wednesday August 6, 2025; 2:00-3:00 PM ET Submit Questions to: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/ae8r/#!/dashboard Register for Webinar: https://nasaevents.webex.com/weblink/register/rd7efb34cc2e16c1eb88aa89abd9a0d67 If you want to attend, register now. When your registration is approved, you'll receive an invitation to join the webinar. To request reasonable accommodations, please contact hq-stmd-aco@nasaprs.com. The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) anticipates a release of Space Technology Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) Announcement on or about July 30, 2025. Standing ACO #NNH25ZTR002O will be available for five years and will serve as the umbrella opportunity for topic-specific appendix releases. NASA intends to issue appendices every six to 12 months to address evolving space technology needs. Details regarding Standing ACO can be accessed via the following steps: Open the INSPIRES homepage at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Under Solicitations, select “Open” Enter NNH25ZTR002O Select Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) leads the development, demonstration, and infusion of transformational space technologies that solve critical stakeholder needs and support future NASA, government, and commercial missions. STMD investments aim to (1) advance U.S. space technology innovation and competitiveness in a global context, (2) foster innovation by cultivating breakthrough ideas, embracing risk, and fueling a competitive space economy and (3) inspire and develop a powerful U.S. aerospace technology community to improve life on Earth and in space. STMD releases collaboration opportunities throughout the year, allowing NASA to find and fund solutions, innovations, and services from a range of people and organizations. The entrepreneurial U.S. commercial space industry is rapidly evolving, including the development of new sub-orbital and orbital launch vehicles, as well as the development of new spacecraft technologies and the business models to implement them. It is clear, however, that this emerging industry faces significant challenges. NASA’s support through partnerships with industry can accelerate the availability of technology and reduce costs for the development and infusion of new emerging space capabilities. NASA’s support could include technical expertise, use of test facilities, hardware, and software to aid industry partners in maturing capabilities that can enable or enhance a range of space vehicle technologies, systems, and/or mature other closely related subsystems. NASA plans to use its Other Transaction Authority to enter into Unfunded Space Act Agreements (Unfunded SAAs) under which there is no exchange of funds between NASA and the Lead Entity. STMD has used a Strategic Framework to guide its investment strategy, which provides proposers insight into technologies and capabilities of interest. The Framework aligns with Agency-wide NASA priorities, including the Moon to Mars Objectives and Science Decadal Surveys. The Strategic Framework provides context and traceability from overarching mission needs to high level goals, to the technological advances STMD should prioritize, and the specific technical challenges that must be addressed. The Strategic Framework is also aligned with the 2024 NASA Technology Taxonomy. In 2024, STMD initiated a new collaborative process to better integrate the aerospace community’s most pervasive technical challenges and further guide NASA’s space technology development and investments. STMD published a document overviewing 187 shortfalls – technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The 2024 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking document, integrates input received from NASA mission directorates and centers, small and large industry organizations, other government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals. STMD is using the integrated ranked list and future updates as one of several investment decision-making factors including informing the development of capability goals and technology roadmaps. Specific Appendix Call for Proposals will be periodically announced as Appendices to this Standing ACO. The intent is for Appendix selections to result in partnerships focused on advancing commercially developed space technologies, benefitting both the commercial and government use of space. The Appendices will be issued under the Standing ACO in NSPIRES (https://nspires.nasaprs.com/). Technical and programmatic comments and questions may be addressed by email to HQ-STMD-ACO@nasaprs.com. The following topics will be included in the first appendix with anticipated release date of July 30, 2025. Space Transportation (Go) NASA is looking to assist the space transportation community to rapidly mature propulsion components and systems for increased performance, increased reliability, and decreased cost at the mission level. As part of that aim, NASA is interested in supporting testing and subject matter expertise support towards industry led innovations with near-term market and mission infusion opportunities. Both topics are in response to the following capability areas: Advanced Propulsion and Flight Vehicle Systems. Topic 1: Advancing Space Transportation Engine Elements NASA is looking to improve the reliability and duration of key engine components. This topic focuses on risk mitigation and testing of propulsion technologies: Engine systems, valves, flow meters, etc. This is not limited to any propulsion type (chemical, electric, propellantless, etc.). These advancements will be fundamental to pushing science and humans farther into space. Topic 2: Advanced manufacturing, advanced material development, design and/or modeling activities for propulsion applications This topic focuses on novel material and manufacturing applications and/or NASA unique capabilities to accelerate industry adoption towards operational flight solutions. Space to Surface Access (Land) NASA is pursuing technology advancements that will enable expanded, efficient, and precision access to diverse surface destinations from in-space transits and orbital operations. The Land domain includes all entry, descent and landing (EDL) technologies for Earth return, Mars, and other bodies throughout the Solar System that have appreciable gravity, including the Moon. NASA Technology Shortfalls relevant to EDL will be used in assessment of proposals to determine relevance to prioritized needs, benefit to proposing institutions and NASA, and potential for a successful public-private partnership toward achieving proposed outcomes. For ACOs proposing flight testing, proposers can leverage center-specific capabilities or tests via the NASA Flight Opportunities Program as part of the proposed NASA support. To maximize the number of awards that can be made within Space to Surface Access, NASA’s contributions to each partnership in the following three topic areas will be limited to $1M per agreement, from the Land domain. The following Land topic areas are of interest: Topic 1: Deceleration Systems Includes the hardware systems and subsystems needed for Entry and Descent (such as aeroshell structures, thermal protection systems, drag and control devices, etc.) or used for any type of aeroassist, including advances that help enable precision landing. This topic also includes the acquisition of test or flight data to validate performance models of these systems and subsystems. Topic 2: Landing Systems and Environments Includes understanding plume surface interaction (PSI), a risk to planetary landers and nearby assets, through flight instrumentation, validated modeling, and ground testing. Also includes novel landing/attenuation systems, as well as other surface environments that affect EDL systems. Topic 3: Guidance and Navigation Systems This topic includes sensors, mapping technologies, and algorithms that enable precision landing/recovery and hazard detection and avoidance on bodies with appreciable gravity. This area extends to algorithms used throughout EDL to enable precision landing. Surface Infrastructure and Exploration (Live) Topic 1: Surface Exploration Relevant Capability Areas: Environments and Dust Mitigation 1, Surface Power 2 NASA is seeking technology maturation and/or demonstration of key lunar infrastructure capabilities to enable scalable architectures and a viable commercial ecosystem for Lunar and Mars exploration. Such technologies advance capabilities that are fundamental to creating an interoperable global lunar infrastructure (see NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives). Examples could include, but not limited to, power generation, power management and distribution, and energy storage. In-Space Infrastructure & Discovery (Expand) Topic 1: In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) NASA is looking to help create the next-generation space ecosystem that includes the repair, upgrade, and assembly of in-space assets. As part of that aim, NASA is interested in increasing the number of flight-ready systems and services that can provide rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture (RPOC), standard modular interfaces, and robotic manipulation. NASA also is committed to helping preserve the freedom of all U.S. and commercial missions to maneuver and operate safely and securely within the space environment. To that end, NASA is also interested in advancing technologies to support the long term space operating environment and help ensure that space activities can be safely conducted indefinitely into the future, while minimizing the risk of debris strikes. NASA facilities and subject matter expertise in these areas are available for commercial partnerships. a. Robotic Manipulation, Design for Serviceability, and RPOC: This topic focuses on advancing commercially available flight systems and services that support robotic servicing, installation, and upgrade. It emphasizes robotic manipulation, modular spacecraft design, prepared interfaces and aids, instrument upgrades, and RPOC of prepared and unprepared space objects. b. Tracking and Remediation of Orbital Debris: This topic aims to develop technology to reduce likelihood and consequences of debris impacts through improved characterization, tracking, and remediation of both small and large debris. It includes ground-based laser tracking capabilities and space traffic management expertise. Respondents are reminded that they can additionally request commercial suborbital and orbital flight testing in support of the work proposed to this topic through the Flight Opportunities program. Topic 2: Communications, Position, Navigation, and Timing (CPNT) NASA aims to enable advanced communications and navigation technologies that are critical for robust lunar and deep space infrastructures. This topic area focuses on: The development of standards-based, interoperable, high-rate communication systems across the lunar surface to enable reliable, efficient data exchange supporting lunar exploration and commercial activities The creation of autonomous onboard navigation capabilities for cislunar, lunar, and deep space missions that enhance spacecraft autonomy, reduce reliance on Earth-based interaction and control, and support operations in complex space environments. Innovative technologies in these areas will enable scalable mission architectures with reduced Earth-dependence for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. These technologies contribute to global space utilization, leading to increased commercial activity and services that foster a robust lunar and deep space economy. Three of subtopics below (a,b,c) offer specific recommendations for leveraging resources at NASA Centers. The fourth subtopic (d) is open to any NASA facilities or subject matter expertise in that area this is available for commercial partnerships. Respondents are reminded that they can additionally request commercial suborbital and orbital flight testing in support of the work proposed to subtopic d through the Flight Opportunities program. a. High-Rate Lunar and Martian Surface Wi-Fi and 3GPP Cellular Analysis: This topic involves testing and evaluation of commercial Wi-Fi and 3GPP hardware through NASA's lunar and Mars analog field tests and emulated environments, including work being done at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It also includes work with Wireless Insight lunar RF propagation model and simulation at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC). b. Software for Onboard Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, and Control: In collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), this topic aims to mature and infuse autoNGC [1] ground and flight software apps and libraries for sensor fusion, state estimation, image processing, and maneuver planning to provide spacecraft onboard autonomy over a broad range of operational regimes. c. Lunar Multi-GNSS (GPS/Galileo): This topic focuses on infusing Lunar weak-signal, multi-GNSS capabilities into lunar flight opportunities to reduce reliance on Earth-based ground tracking by providing subject matter expertise, software, hardware designs, and – pending availability – a fully flight qualified NavCube3-mini (NC3m) [1] from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as well as integration support for a proposer provided lunar/cislunar flight opportunity. 1. [1] –“NavCube3-mini Lunar GNSS Receiver,” NTRS d. Time Synchronization / Time Transfer in support of Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, and Control: This topic focuses on time synchronization / time transfer technologies to support autonomous navigation, guidance, and control to reduce reliance on Earth-based ground tracking and operations. Topic 3: Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems In support of NASA’s exploration goals and commercial industry, NASA is interested in continuing to advance the state-of-the art of Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems technologies to cost-effectively expand the capabilities of such platforms in challenging environments. a. Emerging Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems Technologies: This topic focuses on developing emerging capabilities that enable single or distributed small spacecraft systems to support exploration, science, and commercial activities at the Earth, Moon, Mars, and beyond, with minimal involvement of human operators and existing infrastructure. Technologies include edge computing, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), and others that enable autonomous operations. All Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems STMD shortfalls-related technologies relevant to the topic will be considered, but preference will be given to the following emerging fields: Technologies that enable increasingly capable platforms to precede and accompany human explorers to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations to scout terrain, characterize the environment, identify risks, and prospect for resources; Technologies that enable single or distributed systems of small spacecraft to perform autonomous operations for responsive communications and control, Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT), time-sensitive observations, asset monitoring, proximity operations, inspection infrastructure, and Space Situational Awareness (SSA), in support of exploration missions and commercial activity in cislunar space and beyond; Technologies that enable edge computation, “artificial intelligence” and machine learning algorithms, radiation-tolerant computational hardware, and methods to reduce or optimize the need for human interaction of spacecraft decision-making, and/or the burden on existing infrastructure. NASA-owned in-orbit Small Spacecraft may be considered as usable NASA resources for the ACO, subject to the implementation of appropriate user and intellectual property agreements ahead of submission. Ground-based resource-optimization assets, and/or mostly/fully software tool suites such as NASA’s Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) system at Ames Research Center, may also be considered, along with software such as NASA’s OSE-SAT aimed at containerization of “software payloads” also at NASA Ames for testing aboard hosted orbital spacecraft. Respondents are reminded that they can additionally request commercial suborbital and orbital flight testing in support of the work proposed to this topic through the Flight Opportunities program. Foundational Capabilities (Enable) Topic 1: Advanced Power and Thermal NASA is seeking energy management technologies to improve the viability and reliability of sustaining systems operating in extreme and challenging environments. The moon, other planetary surfaces and deep space present challenges to power and thermal systems with respect to energy generation, storage, distribution, and rejection. NASA facilities and subject matter expertise in these areas are available for commercial partnerships. a. Power for non-solar-illuminated small systems: This topic is intended to mature commercially available power technologies at power levels ranging from 50-100 Welectric up to multi- 100 Welectric enabling operations in remote, poorly illuminated environments for missions spanning from short duration to multiple years. Technologies of interest include, but are not limited to, dynamic power conversion for non-plutonium radioisotope power sources, extreme temperature energy storage, and wired and wireless power transfer. b. Thermal management technologies for extreme environments: This topic is intended to mature commercially available thermal technologies to manage heat as a resource, reject heat even into high sink temperature environments and protect components from extreme temperatures. Topic 2: Advanced Materials, Structures, and Manufacturing NASA recognizes the need to advance capabilities and technologies related to in-space manufacturing to enable both NASA missions and new and valued industry capabilities and commercial markets. To that end, NASA in interested in maturing and demonstrating advances for in-space manufacture of in situ spares, repairs, and new parts; in-space welding; products from repurposed materials; non-destructive evaluation and qualification of in-space manufactured components; and new materials, processes, and products leveraging the microgravity environment. NASA facilities and subject matter expertise in these areas are available for commercial partnerships. a. In-Space Manufacturing: This topic aims to develop manufacturing technologies enabling new and robust commercial capabilities and services. Topic 3: Cross-Cutting Technologies NASA recognizes needed advancements in several cross-cutting areas enabling complex and compute intensive operations and observations at destinations further into the solar system. To that end, NASA is interested in increasing the readiness and commercial availability of higher performance computing and peripherals, robotic capabilities for an array of in-space tasks, autonomy to realize human-machine teaming, improved observational capabilities, and advances in deployable light weight structures. a. Robotics and Autonomous Systems: This topic focuses on developing robotic technologies and autonomous systems enabling commercial availability of robotic systems performing complex tasks in isolation or proximity to humans. b. High performance computing: This topic focuses on advancing commercially available technologies enabling advanced in-space computing, including peripherals and networking technologies. c. Quantum sensors: This topic seeks to develop advanced observational capabilities that would lead to advances in science and communications. The emphasis is on quantum sensing using atoms, ions, and spins. d. Lightweight inflatable surface elements: This topic focuses on advancing the commercial availability and flight readiness of materials and systems enabling lightweight inflatable elements for pressurized volume and stowage. Schedule ACO Synopsis Release: July 17, 2025 Standing ACO Release Date: July 30, 2025 1st Appendix Call for Proposals: July 30, 2025 ACO Webinar: Week of August 4 Last Date to Request Center Letter of Intent: August 29, 2025 Proposal Questions Due: September 5, 2025 Proposal Due: September 24, 2025 Due Diligence Period (target): October 29, 2025 Selection Announcement (target): December 4, 2025 Project Start Date (target): January 5, 2026