Current planning calls for NASA SMD to release a ROSES solicitation in the spring of 2022 for Astrophysics Pioneer space and sub-orbital science investigations to accomplish Astrophysics science objectives.  NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is developing a long duration Antarctic balloon mission concept to be proposed to this solicitation.

This partnership opportunity is being issued to select a teaming partner to serve as the balloon gondola element provider for an individual mission. The mission flight segment includes three system elements: Gondola Element (GE), Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and Science Instrument Element (SI). In this role, the partner will design, build, test and deliver the GE to GSFC. The partner will provide on-site support at GSFC for mission-level integration of the GE, OTE, and SI to each other and system-level testing. The partner will provide in-field support of GE operations at Fort Sumner NM and McMurdo Station Antarctica.   GSFC intends to maintain an essential degree of insight into GE design and integration, and will exercise essential oversight to ensure that the implementation is responsive to NASA requirements and constraints as will be defined in upcoming AO.

NOTE:  Upon selection, GSFC may discuss and further tailor of the roles proposed by respondents in the best interests of the proposal.

The proposed mission is currently in pre-Phase A. If the proposal is down-selected, the next step in the proposal process is a mission concept study culminating in a Concept Study Report (CSR). The following schedule should be used as a basis for responses to this opportunity:

Release of final Pioneer solicitation               Winter 2021 (target)

Step 1 Proposals due                                      90 days after release of solicitation

Selection for competitive Phase A studies     Summer 2022 (target)

CSRs (Step 2 proposals) due                          6 months after proposal selection

Phase B start                                                   Winter 2023 (target)

GE start date                                                   Vendor specified

GE Delivery for I&T                                          January 2025

Test Flight Launch                                            August - October 2025

Delivery to CSBF for Antarctic Flight               July 2026

Antarctic Flight                                                 December-January 2026

Additional information will be found in the attached document. Notice of Interest shall be sent to [email protected] via email with “Notice of Interest” in the subject line, a simple sentence or two expressing interest in the candidate mission, and an email address to send further information.