Ralph Steckler/Space Grant Space Colonization Research and Technology Development Opportunity Phase I | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Ralph Steckler/Space Grant Space Colonization Research and Technology Development Opportunity Phase I is a NASA Headquarters grant competition run by the NASA Office of Education in partnership with the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). It is designed to seed early research and technology development that could eventually support space colonization or long-duration space settlement, with a near-term emphasis on enabling a sustained human presence on the Moon as a practical stepping stone toward later human exploration of Mars. The solicitation is positioned around work that is both innovative and durable, meaning NASA is looking for ideas that are not just novel in the short term, but that can mature into capabilities that fit the agency's longer-range exploration roadmap.

The technical scope is framed around core surface exploration elements that would be needed to live and work on the Moon for extended periods. Example focus areas explicitly called out include habitation systems, rover-related capabilities, surface power generation and management, communications, and extra vehicular activity (EVA) systems. In practice, proposals are expected to align with the ESMD research and technology development agenda, so the most competitive concepts would likely be those that clearly map to known lunar surface needs such as reliable energy, robust mobility, safe and efficient human operations outside habitats, and communications architectures that can function in challenging terrain and lighting conditions.

This opportunity is structured as a multi-step pipeline because NASA recognizes that meaningful innovation typically advances in increments rather than in one leap. The Steckler/Space Grant program is therefore planned as three phases, with Phase I serving as the feasibility stage. Phase I awards are meant to establish scientific and technical merit and to demonstrate that the proposed idea is viable enough to justify further investment. The expected outcome of Phase I is a solid foundation of evidence, analysis, prototypes, or experiments that can support continued development and eventual demonstration in later phases. A key program rule is that only Phase I awardees are eligible to compete for Phase II, so Phase I functions both as initial funding and as the gateway to continued support.

Eligibility is tightly limited to the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program community. Only the lead institutions of the 52 Space Grant consortia are allowed to submit proposals, and each consortium is limited to no more than two proposals under this solicitation. Other organizations that want to participate cannot apply directly; they are expected to partner with a Space Grant consortium by working through a consortium director. Joint submissions are permitted if multiple consortia collaborate, but even then one institution must be designated as the lead and fiscal agent, keeping responsibility for the award administration clear.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally signals that NASA expects a closer working relationship with recipients than a standard grant, potentially including more interaction, coordination, or NASA involvement during performance. The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and it does not require cost sharing or matching funds. NASA anticipated making about 20 awards under this Phase I competition.

The application process includes an encouraged but non-binding Notice of Intent (NOI) to propose. NASA uses the NOI primarily for planning purposes, such as gauging the range of research topics likely to be proposed and ensuring the right reviewer expertise is lined up. The NOI had to be submitted by the NASA Space Grant Director through NSPIRES, NASA's online proposal system, by January 16, 2009. Full proposals were due February 19, 2009, with the solicitation originally posted on December 4, 2008. Applicants were directed to access the solicitation through NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com) and could contact the NSPIRES Help Desk for access problems, while program-related questions could be routed through NASA's Space Grant program management contact.

In short, this Phase I solicitation is a targeted NASA Space Grant competition aimed at early feasibility work for lunar surface technologies and research that can realistically mature into building blocks for long-term human presence on the Moon, with the broader strategic goal of enabling future human missions to Mars. It is limited to Space Grant lead institutions, capped at two proposals per consortium, and designed as the first step in a phased development pathway where successful Phase I performers earn eligibility to pursue the next stage.

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