Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D)

Due Date: Abstract Due Date: March 19, 2021, 4:00 p.m Description: The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of new materials, manufacturing, and design technologies to enable future structures to be built on orbit utilizing Earth or lunar-derived materials

Category

Opportunity

DoD Communities of Interest

Space

Subject

Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D)

Due Date

Abstract Due Date: March 19, 2021, 4:00 p.m

Government Organization

DARPA Defense Sciences Office

Description
The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of new materials, manufacturing, and design technologies to enable future structures to be built on orbit utilizing Earth or lunar-derived materials. The Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program will provide the foundational proof of concept that new materials science, manufacturing, and design technologies can be brought together to enable future structures to be produced in their native environments without the constraints imposed by launch.
In addition, this program will also explore opportunities to leverage existing materials on the moon (e.g., regolith) as a resource for future lunar-derived materials and structures. Specific technologies of interest include high performance feedstock materials, mass- and energy-efficient off-Earth manufacturing methods, high performance lunar resource utilization capabilities, and new design paradigms that will revolutionize the mass efficiency and precision achievable by future structures.

 

For the purposes of this BAA, “future structures” are defined as large, extended, and/or high precision mechanical structures, typified by three exemplar applications: large solar arrays, large radio frequency reflector antennas, and segmented infrared reflective optics. Responsive proposals should focus on these applications. It is expected that other structures may also fall into this category, such as booms, phased array antennas, instrument arrays and the like, and that progress made against the exemplar applications will benefit these other useful structures. Proposed research should investigate revolutionary advances in materials science, manufacturing, and design that support future DoD space applications.

Dates (All times listed herein are Eastern Time.)
o Posting Date: February 26, 2021
o Proposers Day: February 26, 2021. See Section VIII.A.
o Abstract Due Date: March 19, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
o FAQ Submission Deadline: April 17, 2021, 4:00 p.m. See Section VIII.B.
o Full Proposal Due Date: April 27, 2021, 4:00 p.m.

Additional information regarding this Broad Agency Announcement can be found at the following link:
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/e7e1ad3ff31c4eb3b74524ae672b149e/view

All questions regarding this BAA or administrative issues should be emailed to NOM4D@darpa.mil.

Website

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/e7e1ad3ff31c4eb3b74524ae672b149e/view#general