SAM #MSFC-PS44-SPIE-CUBESAT

NASA CubeSat Payload Opportunity for Artemis SLS Missions

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is inviting organizations to propose CubeSat payloads for deployment on Artemis III, IV, and V Space Launch System (SLS) missions. - Government Buyer: - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - NASA Marshall Space Flight Center - Products/Services Requested: - CubeSat class secondary payloads - 6U and 12U form factors - Fully funded by proposing organizations - Deployment after Orion spacecraft separation from SLS - Trajectories: Earth orbit, heliocentric, or reentry - Unique Requirements: - Payloads must comply with SLS Use Policy - Selection based on proposal quality, hardware maturity, and technical feasibility - No exchange of funds; cooperative opportunity - Detailed instructions provided in reference guide and questionnaire - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors named in the notice - Place of Performance: - NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama - Opportunity supports NASA's space exploration goals

Description

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. Responses to this RFI are voluntary and the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this notice.  Any information submitted in response to this RFI becomes Government property and will not be returned.

On April 1, 2026, NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission, a 10-day mission that carried four astronauts around the Moon and set the stage to return astronauts to lunar surface. NASA was pleased to host CubeSat class secondary payloads aboard SLS on both the Artemis I and II missions. NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD)  invites you to propose cubesat payloads for the Artemis III, IV, and V missions.

While specific mission profiles are still being determined, NASA expects to accommodate 6U and 12U cubesats that would deploy following the separation of the Orion spacecraft from the Space Launch System (SLS) in Earth orbit or on a heliocentric disposal trajectory. Opportunities may also exist for cubesats deployed on a reentry trajectory from Earth orbit. 

This opportunity is available for CubeSats whose missions comply with the Space Launch System Use Policy, Chapter 701 Use of Space Launch System or Alternatives, 51 U.S.C. §§ 70101-70104. These flight opportunities should be considered cooperative, on a no-exchange-of-funds basis and support NASA’s space exploration goals. Potential selection and mission assignment will be based on the maturity of the proposal and hardware as well as technical feasibility.

NASA invites your organization to provide a response for a fully funded cubesat payload by June 1, 2026 for initial consideration for near term missions. Responses should include a letter of intent and a completed SLS cubesat questionnaire (attached). Please refer to the attached SLS Secondary Payloads Reference Guide for additional information on requirements.

While this request for proposals is meant to support near term missions, NASA envisions creating a pipeline of mature payloads and encourages inquiries and letters of intent for missions beyond Artemis V.

Please submit any proposals and questions to nasa-slspayloads@mail.nasa.gov, dana.n.justice@nasa.gov, and yong.h.castillo@nasa.gov.

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