Cathode Advancements in Science and Technology for Oxygen Resistance (CASTOR)

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is issuing a Disruption Opportunity (DO) to invite submissions for innovative research focused on developing efficient, high-performance, long-lived oxygen-compatible cathodes for air-breathing very low earth orbit (VLEO) electric propulsion systems.

This initiative falls under the Program Announcement for Disruptioneering, DARPA-PA-25-07, with a total award value of up to $900,000 for combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 efforts. The goal is to enable rapid investment in new technologies within 120 days from idea inception.

Work Details
Performers are expected to deliver the following: negotiated deliverables specific to their project objectives, which may include registered reports, experimental protocols, publications, software libraries, code and APIs with documentation and user manuals, as well as comprehensive design documents and validation data.

Key milestones include presenting at a Technical Interchange Meeting by Month 20 and delivering a prototype of the final cathode design along with a final report by Month 21. Proposals must also include plans for virtual kickoff meetings in both phases, quarterly PI meetings, regular teleconferences for progress reporting, site visits by DARPA Program Managers, and technical interchange meetings in both phases. If Government Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) testing is requested, travel costs for testing must be included.

Period of Performance
The anticipated program start date is June 29, 2026. The contract will be monitored and revised as necessary throughout its duration.

Place of Performance
The geographic location for meetings and testing is anticipated to be Washington, D.C.