A--HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TESTING

There are many challenges facing our world today: Finding a cure for cancer; discovering safer and cleaner alternative energy sources; making transportation safer and more effective; producing durable, environmentally friendly materials; protecting our national assets; exploring Space, and rehabilitating our soldiers, just to name a few. NASAs Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) shares common, complex problems with many industries. We are seeking partners interested in using our unique hypervelocity impact testing technical capabilities to help solve both space related and earthbound problems. For the past 50+ years, this nation has made a great investment in space exploration and NASA JSC, resulting in JSC capabilities (disruptive technologies, expertise, knowledge, specialized skills, experience, facilities, labs and tools) that are used to better life here on Earth. Utilizing these national assets to further technological advances also saves money, not only for the taxpayer, but across industry, academia, and Government agencies. In todays global economy, the key to our nations future is dependent on our ability to advance technologies in all industries and operate in the most innovative, efficient and effective ways. With the release of this Announcement, JSC looks forward to sharing its unique capabilities to meet the needs of others. Partnering will foster innovation through collaboration, assist in solving complex problems relevant to life on earth and create a more efficient and effective Government. Interested parties should respond in accordance with the language provided in the Announcement. I. Description and Purpose of this Announcement NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) seeks to identify potential partners for utilization of JSC's unique hypervelocity impact testing resources to support government, university, and commercial activities. These resources include technical expertise, knowledge, specialized skills, experience, facilities, labs, and tools not reasonably available in the commercial sector. These resources are frequently referred to as capabilities throughout this document. These capabilities can be of great benefit to the nation by enhancing technological research and development, increasing the nations economic vitality, expanding human knowledge, and preserving United States critical skills. These capabilities, as outlined in Section IV, have broad application within diverse industries including, but not limited to, energy, petrochemical, medical, transportation, advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, commercial space, and first responders. The capabilities also have broad application in academia and other government agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security). This NASA JSC Announcement of Unique Capabilities, hereafter referred to as Announcement, is solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the government, nor will the government pay for any information provided. Since this is an Announcement, no evaluation letters or results will be issued to the respondents. The expectation is that NASA JSC will be fully reimbursed for all costs incurred in the performance of work as described in the agreement. The purpose of this Announcement is to engage prospective partners in dialogue leading to research and development (R&D) efforts utilizing these unique capabilities. In selecting potential partners, JSC will assess the best-fit use of its resources consistent with the NASA mission. II. The Process The government and partner will jointly define the partnership, develop mutually agreed to statements of work, cost, and schedule. The government anticipates some respondents may be interested in only one area or sub-area while others may be interested in broad efforts requiring more than one capability. Some entities may want to partner because of their direct needs, or there may be respondents who wish to utilize JSC capabilities to meet the needs of third parties. NASA will identify the appropriate legal instrument for partnering on a case-by-case basis. III. Information Requested from Respondents If interested, parties will submit statements of interest electronically, via email, to the Technical Point of Contact listed below. The statement of interest shall consist of a one-page summary and an additional one page of supporting detail if needed. The one page summary response form can be found here. Responses shall contain a minimum font size of 12. To facilitate a prompt review, the one-page summary shall clearly identify planned utilization of capabilities consistent with those described in this document. Responses are required no later than close of business (COB) on the response date specified above. Information received after this date will only be considered if deemed in the Government's best interest. Please reference this Announcement, "NNJ15ZBH005L", in any inquiries. Respondents are cautioned to mark any information confidential if it is to be treated as proprietary. IV. Hypervelocity Impact Test Capabilities The NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory (RHTL) is an access-controlled hazardous test area capable of simulating Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris impacts on spacecraft materials and components. This unique NASA facility was designed to safely handle and test hazardous targets, and simulates impacts on shields, spacecraft, satellites, and spacesuits. Four Two-stage Light Gas Guns (2SLGGs) propel single 0.05 mm to 22.2 mm diameter projectiles to velocities in excess of 7.5 km/s. Because of WSTFs remote location and attention to safety, the RHTL is capable of implementing test programs that propel projectiles at toxic or explosive materials and components such as batteries, aerospace fluids, and pressurized containers in a controlled laboratory environment. Release energies up to 2.3 kg (5 lb) TNT equivalent can be accommodated within the facilitys sealed target chambers. At the WSTF, there are 1 inch, .50 caliber, and .17 caliber guns. Firing these guns requires an extreme amount of energy release, thus requiring the facility to be remotely located, housing underground bunkers and following access control protocol. The two-stage gun uses standard smokeless gunpowder as its first stage and highly compressible gas for the second-stage to launch the projectile package. The smokeless powder charge sends a polyethylene piston at 2500 feet per second down the pump tube, compressing hydrogen gas. The tapered high-pressure coupling section collects the gas until the pressure ruptures a stainless steel petal-valve, accelerating the launch package down the barrel. In the evacuated expansion chamber a stripper plate separates the launch package by capturing the sabot as the projectile proceeds in free flight to impact the test sample. Various high-speed cameras are used, some capable of 200 million frames per second, to capture the target impact and debris cloud. Because of the speed of the projectile, measuring the velocity requires the use of laser intervalometers (automated shutter devices). The data acquisition must operate at a greater bandwidth to capture the diagnostic information from the light detectors and temperature, pressure, and shock measurement.