The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation titled “Technology Advancement Utilizing Suborbital Flight Opportunities ‘Tech Flights’” as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021).” The purpose of this Appendix is to provide funding for the testing or demonstration of space technologies for sustainable presence at the Moon, provide Earth-observing capabilities, and/or expand U.S. commercial space activity. Selected technologies will be funded for testing through flights on U.S. commercial suborbital rockets, rocket-powered lander vehicles, high-altitude balloons, and aircraft following reduced-gravity flight profiles as a bridge between laboratory testing and demonstration in Earth orbit or beyond.
The solicitation is available by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at https://nspires.nasaprs.com, selecting "OPEN” link under “Solicitations," and selecting "Technology Advancement Utilizing Suborbital Flight Opportunities "Tech Flights"." To go directly to the solicitation page, visit https://tinyurl.com/NASA-21FO-F1.

Submission of a Mandatory Preliminary Proposal is a prerequisite to be invited to submit a Full Proposal. A Mandatory Preliminary Proposal (MPP) is due July 26, 2021, at 5:00 pm ET, with Full Proposals due on or before October 4, 2021.

Technologies must address one of the following topics: 1) Supporting National Efforts at the Moon and in Cislunar Space, Inclusive of Human and Robotic Exploration and Scientific Discovery, 2) Earth-Observing Capabilities to Support Breakthrough Science and National Efforts to Address Climate Change, 3) Technologies that Ensure National Leadership in Space and Help the Commercial Space Industry Grow.