Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP) 2015 Flight Research Opportunity | Apply Online

USIP 2015 Flight Research Opportunity FAQs

What is the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP) 2015 Flight Research Opportunity?

USIP 2015 is a NASA grant and flight opportunity intended to help U.S. colleges and universities give undergraduate students real end-to-end flight project experience. Institutions propose undergraduate-led teams that design and fly a science and/or technology payload aligned with NASA strategic goals.

What is the main purpose of USIP 2015?

The program emphasizes two core outcomes: (1) a practical flight project experience that builds undergraduate skills in science/engineering along with leadership, teamwork, and project management; and (2) an actual flight of a science or technology investigation that advances or aligns with NASA scientific and technical objectives.

Who runs USIP 2015 within NASA?

USIP 2015 is run by NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in partnership with NASA's Office of Education (OE) through the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (Space Grant).

What kinds of projects does USIP 2015 support?

The solicitation supports undergraduate-led projects that design, build, integrate, test, and fly a science and/or technology payload. The experience is meant to be authentic mission work, not just classroom or lab exercises.

What does "end-to-end flight project experience" mean in this solicitation?

Based on the solicitation description, it refers to students participating through the full mission lifecycle, including designing the payload, developing it, integrating it, testing it, preparing it for flight, and executing a flight investigation on an actual platform.

What flight platforms are included under "suborbital class platforms"?

The solicitation describes "suborbital class platforms" as options such as sounding rockets, high-altitude balloons, aircraft, suborbital reusable launch vehicles (sRLVs), or CubeSats that are launched on an orbital launch vehicle.

Does NASA provide launch or flight services?

Yes. A major feature of USIP 2015 is that NASA provides the launch or flight services at no cost to the project. This is intended to let teams focus their budgets on building and preparing the payload and training students.

What type of award mechanism is used?

Funding is offered under a cooperative agreement.

How much funding is available per project under USIP 2015?

The solicitation separates funding paths depending on which NASA office provides the award: up to $200,000 per investigation through NASA's Office of Education (OE), or up to $100,000 per investigation through NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

What can the funding be used for?

The solicitation states funding can cover design, development, integration, and testing of the payload, plus student internships. It also notes OE funding can include research on key innovative technologies.

What is the difference between the OE and SMD funding paths?

OE-funded awards have a higher cost cap ($200,000 per investigation) and are restricted to Space Grant consortia (with additional requirements referenced as Appendix E). SMD-funded awards have a $100,000 per investigation cost cap and are open to all U.S. institutions of higher education.

Is eligibility limited to Space Grant institutions?

It depends on the funding path. OE funding is restricted to Space Grant consortia. SMD funding is open to all U.S. institutions of higher education.

Are institutions allowed to contribute additional resources beyond the NASA cost cap?

Yes. NASA allows institutions to contribute additional resources without a limit.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The solicitation states that cost sharing is not required.

Does voluntary cost sharing improve proposal scoring?

No. The solicitation specifies that voluntary institutional contributions are not used as a factor in proposal evaluation.

How many awards did NASA expect to make under this opportunity?

NASA estimated about $6.0 million total available and anticipated selecting at least 30 projects for implementation, assuming funds are available.

How long do selected projects have to become launch-ready?

Selected projects are expected to be launch-ready within 18 months of project initiation.

What was the target launch readiness date mentioned for this cycle?

The target launch readiness date listed for this cycle was August 1, 2017, illustrating the general cadence from selection to flight readiness.

Where was the solicitation posted and how do applicants find it?

The solicitation was posted through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal submission system) and could be found by searching the funding opportunity number NNH15ZDA010C.

What is NSPIRES in the context of this opportunity?

NSPIRES is NASA's proposal submission system used to post the solicitation and accept submissions. Proposers needed to be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES.

What were the key dates for USIP 2015?

The SFRO release date was on or about August 21, 2015. A Q&A teleconference was held September 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM. Notice of Intent was due October 1, 2015 (11:59 PM). Full proposals were due November 20, 2015 (11:59 PM). Selections were planned for December 2015 (target).

Was a Notice of Intent required?

The timeline indicates applicants were asked to submit a Notice of Intent by October 1, 2015 (11:59 PM).

When were proposals due?

Full proposals were due November 20, 2015 (11:59 PM).

When did NASA plan to announce selections?

NASA planned to announce selections in December 2015 (target).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is aimed primarily at U.S. institutions, consistent with NASA's general rule that it provides funding to U.S. organizations. Proposers needed to be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES.

Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

The notice mentions limited circumstances where non-U.S. organizations might participate under a "no exchange of funds" policy, and directs applicants to NASA's guidebook for proposers for detailed rules and special instructions.

Are there any restrictions related to other USIP solicitations?

Yes. Proposals submitted to the USIP 2017 Solar Eclipse solicitation were not eligible for award under USIP 2015, so applicants needed to select the appropriate USIP call and avoid duplicating or cross-submitting the same concept to the wrong solicitation.

Who should applicants contact with general questions?

General questions about the solicitation were directed to David Pierce, Senior Program Executive for Suborbital Research within SMD at NASA Headquarters.

Who should applicants contact with Space Grant-specific questions?

Questions tied specifically to the Space Grant component were directed to Dr. Lenell Allen, Director of Aerospace Research and Career Development (ARCD) in NASA's Office of Education, using the Space Grant email point of contact listed in the announcement.

Where are additional requirements for OE/Space Grant awards referenced?

The solicitation notes additional requirements and guidance for OE funding restricted to Space Grant consortia and references them as Appendix E.

What is the main takeaway for institutions considering applying?

USIP 2015 is structured as a flight-focused undergraduate R&D opportunity with clear deliverables, capped budgets, NASA-provided access to flight platforms, and a defined schedule that expects a realistic plan to reach launch readiness within 18 months.