SAM #80GRC026CA001_RFI

NASA RFI: Secondary Communications System for Artemis III Orion in LEO

NASA Glenn Research Center is seeking industry input on advanced secondary communications systems for the Artemis III Orion spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO): - Government Buyer: - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - NASA Glenn Research Center - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named in the RFI - SpaceX and Blue Origin are referenced as commercial lunar lander providers for Artemis III - Products/Services Requested: - End-to-end secondary communications systems and user terminals for Orion in LEO - Capable of robust, high-rate data return (minimum 12 Mbps return link) - Support for live 4K imagery and large file downlink - Integration with Orion via Ethernet interfaces, 28 VDC power, and within mass/volume constraints - Both internal and external hardware configurations considered - Delivery of flight hardware anticipated in fall 2026 (external) and early 2027 (internal) - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Near-continuous communications coverage in dynamic LEO environments - Steerable antenna/aperture capability - Ease of integration into Orion vehicle - Hardware availability and readiness for flight - Respondents must provide technical details, system parameters, relay architecture, ground interfaces, link budgets, reliability analysis, and cost estimates - Solutions should be mature and ready for integration within the specified timeline

Description

Section 1 - Overview The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking information from U.S. and international commercial providers on support for the recently redefined Artemis III mission. NASA is particularly interested in innovative, secondary communications capabilities that can enable robust, high rate data return from the Orion crew vehicle during operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by NASA’s Moon to Mars (M2M) Program, and aims to identify mature services and user terminals that can augment Orion’s primary communication system. Respondents are invited to submit end-to-end system concepts that could provide continuous, high bandwidth transmission of mission data in the dynamic LEO environment and contribute to the success of crewed space exploration under the Artemis program. Section 2 – RFI Overview 2.1 The Artemis III Mission The Artemis III mission will launch crew in the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and the commercial spacecraft needed to land astronauts on the Moon. Artemis III will test integrated rendezvous and proximity operations between the Orion spacecraft and one or both commercial lunar landers provided by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The Artemis III mission profile is still being finalized. For the purposes of responses to this RFI, the following Ground Rules and Assumptions can be considered: Summer 2027 Artemis III Mission Orion will be around a 250 nmi orbit with a 33 deg inclination Non-Critical (Crit 3) Application 2.2 Service and Integration Expectations The Artemis III mission profile moving to LEO is introducing new challenges to the Orion vehicle, one being a reduced data rate for the primary communication system. In addition, M2M seeks to receive live 4K imagery during rendezvous and docking operations, and downlink of large files in other phases of flight. To meet these demands, a secondary communications system is being evaluated for inclusion in the Artemis III Orion configuration. It is anticipated that, to meet these requirements, the system must provide near continuous communication with a return link of at least 12 Mbps. Given the short timeline, availability of hardware and ease of integration into the Orion vehicle is a significant consideration. Performance Objectives Near continuous communication (goal: > 75%) > 12 Mbps Downlink (goal: 20-50Mbps) > 500 kbps Uplink (Desired to support Class 2 CFDP, not a system requirement) System must provide a broad field of regard or steerable antenna/aperture Orion has many driving attitude constraints so precise vehicle pointing of a fixed antenna/aperture is not available Orion Vehicle Integration Given the short timeline, ease of integration into the Orion vehicle is a significant consideration. Key design parameters include: Data Interface: Ethernet Hardware Control & Telemetry Interface: Ethernet Power Interface: 28 VDC, < 90W max (goal) Mass: < 20kg (goal) Max Volume: 22” x 18” x 18” (goal) Implementation Options Both internally configured and externally mounted implementations will be considered. Parameters if externally mounted on Orion Crew Module Adapter Mounted under Service Module (SM) fairing during launch Assumes system is a single assembly, mounted on a plate or pallet No active cooling Flight Hardware delivery needed in fall 2026. (assume ATP + 4 months) Location is not accessible after SM fairing installation during I&T Assume typical launch vehicle and LEO environments Parameters if internally configured by Orion crew Stowed during launch and setup by the crew Multiple separate components can be assumed Assume antenna placed against window, not integrated into spacecraft Flight Hardware delivery needed in early 2027. (assume ATP + 8 months) Crew cabin can be accessed later in I&T flow than Service Module Assume soft stow launch and pressurized cabin environments Testing It will be essential to perform Spacecraft (End to End) data flow test prior to launch Section 3. Requested Information NASA invites detailed responses from industry on existing or planned capabilities that are available to support NASA’s emerging needs for Orion in LEO during Artemis III. Respondents are encouraged to submit existing documentation, such as Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), or User Guides, where available. Information provided will be used solely for internal Government planning, market research, and acquisition strategy development purposes. NASA will not publicly release company-specific data or estimates. Response to questions can be marked proprietary or confidential information. However, industry respondents are encouraged to deliver information such that it can be openly shared with the NASA stakeholder community and critical industry partners involved with Orion vehicle, enabling NASA to move quickly to assess and execute on any next steps. Below are summaries of anticipated system elements and the corresponding details expected to be necessary for determining potential support to Artemis III crew Orion. Please provide the following system information for consideration, or a rationale for why this information was not included: System Overview Overview Description System Terminal Parameters Internal vs. External Size Weight Mass Volume Vehicle Interfaces Any unique needs (e.g. Thermal) Space-Relay Architecture Parameters Service Volume Constellation details Supporting ground infrastructure Existing (May 2026) vs. planned (May 2027) assets, and clear accounting of schedule risks that could impact service availability End-to-End Ground interfaces Cloud services Relevant APIs Current end-to-end flows Any assets that have existing MCC interfaces Quantitively Link and Reliability Analysis Link budgets and projected data rates Coverage analysis, including any major attitude dependencies Projected network availability and reliability Expected Delivery, Integration and Test Schedule Estimated delivery date for an Engineering Unit Estimated delivery date for a Flight Unit Required integration steps and projected timeline Required validation and test steps and timeline Cost ROM (Rough order of Magnitude) cost for both FY26 and FY27 Additional Information Provide any additional insights not covered above 3. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS All written responses of the above requested documentation shall be submitted electronically via email to claude.e.david@nasa.gov, ian.park@nasa.gov, and shanna.deleon@nasa.gov, no later than May 29, 2026, at 4:00 pm CT. Additionally, a Request for Information Industry Day is anticipated to occur on May 19, 2026, at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX and will include a virtual option. Following the Industry Day presentation(s) NASA will offer private, one-on-one meetings in person or virtual with interested industry participants on May 19-20, 2026. Requests to meet with NASA in a one-on-one setting at JSC are due May 15, 2026, at 4:00 pm CT. No requests will be accepted after this date. Please submit requests electronically to shanna.deleon@nasa.gov. Participation in a site visit or a one-on-one is voluntary. NASA extends this offer to all interested parties to further its market research and collaborative partnerships in advance of pursuing a solution. 4. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment by the Government to procure any services. This is a request for information for planning and information purposes only. This is not a request for proposal or quotation, nor is this a solicitation for a contract or grant award. This RFI does not obligate the Government in any way. The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with the information submitted in response to this request. No corresponding solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation following this is released, it will be posted on www.sam.gov. It is the interested party’s responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. 5. POINTS OF CONTACT For questions regarding this RFI, please email claude.e.david@nasa.gov, ian.park@nasa.gov, and shanna.deleon@nasa.gov.

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