NASA is seeking submissions under the Research Opportunities for International Space Station Utilization Earth Mission Partnerships focus area for partnerships for the continued operations of the Earth science missions identified below through the end of ISS lifetime, which is currently planned for decommissioning at the end of fiscal year 2030.
Missions:
- CPF (https://clarreo-pathfinder.larc.nasa.gov/): Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder (CPF) instrument will measure sunlight reflected by the Earth and Moon with up to ten times better accuracy than current sensors, serving as a calibration standard for Earth observation instruments, including commercial data providers, to improve accuracy. CPF is designed to be hosted on ISS. Per the FY26 PBR Technical Supplement, NASA is seeking partnerships for CPF operations if NASA deploys it to the ISS in 2026 and it is manifested through the end of the ISS lifetime.
- OCO-3 (https://ocov3.jpl.nasa.gov/): Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 collects space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide to characterize its sources and sinks and quantify their variability over the seasonal cycle. OCO-3 was launched and began collecting data in 2019. OCO-3 is externally mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) Site 3 on the ISS. OCO-3 is currently manifested in this site through the end of ISS lifetime.
- SAGE III (https://sage.nasa.gov/missions/about-sage-iii-on-iss/): Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III observes stratospheric ozone, aerosols, and water vapor from space. Using an occultation technique, SAGE uses the light that passes through the atmosphere when the sun and moon rise and set to measure gases and particles in that region of the atmosphere. SAGE III was launched and began collecting data in 2017. SAGE III is externally mounted on the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) 4 on the ISS. SAGE III is currently manifested in this site through the end of ISS lifetime
As part of partnerships for one of more of these missions, NASA is interested in the proposed arrangements regarding the mission operations; science data collection, processing, and archiving; calibration efforts; science data availability, latency, and access; ground systems; and other aspects. NASA is open to all proposals and novel ideas for productive arrangements, including full to partial use of existing mission operations teams via reimbursable terms. In addition, NASA will consider partnerships with a consortium involving multiple interested organizations as well as multiple partnerships for each mission. NASA's preference is that, to the maximum extent possible, a partnership would continue some to all of the data products and make them broadly and openly available to the research and applications communities.
NASA is currently accepting white papers through August 29, 2025 at 11:59pm central time. Additional details can be found in Focus Area 2 and Attachment M. Technical questions can be submitted via email to the ISS NASA Research Announcement (NRA) Manager (Colleen Corbett, colleen.corbett@nasa.gov) and the Earth Science Division mailbox
(hq-esdpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov) before August 19, 2025 at 11:59 central time.
A virtual Q&A Forum will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 12:00 pm 15:00 Eastern Time
This webinar will include presentations to educate proposers on the science, operations, and data processing aspects of the CLARREO Pathfinder, OCO-3, and SAGE III Earth Science missions.
Individuals may submit questions in advance. Please submit questions through August 13 at 11:59 PM (ET) to ensure they are answered during the webinar.
Submit questions at this link or the QR code in Attachment A: https://larc.cnf.io. Use passcode INDWEB815 to submit questions.
To join the webinar on August 15, please use the following information :
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Please note:
This webinar will be informational and listen-only for participants. The only way to interact with NASA during the session is by submitting questions beforehand through the link/QR code above. The hosts will not be able to respond to voice questions, raised hands, or chat questions.
Presentations made during the webinar, including answers to submitted questions, will be posted as part of the Other documents section on the NSPIRES webpage for the solicitation as soon as practicable. NASA also plans to post a recording of the webinar on NSPIRES.
The webinar questions and answers will be included in the FAQ documents on NSPIRES for this solicitation. Any questions proposers may have during and after the webinar should be directed to the NASA Research Announcement Manager (Colleen Corbett, colleen.corbett@nasa.gov) and the Earth Science Division mailbox (hq-esdpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov).
Questions regarding this webinar announcement may be directed to Jennifer Trinkle at jennifer.e.trinkle@nasa.gov.
Background
NASA is issuing a solicitation under the Research Opportunities for International Space Station (ISS) Utilization Earth Mission Partnerships focus area. The goal is to establish partnerships for the continued operations of specific Earth science missions through the end of the ISS lifetime, which is currently planned for decommissioning at the end of fiscal year 2030. The missions include Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder (CPF), Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3), and Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III.
Work Details
NASA seeks proposals for partnerships that cover various aspects of mission operations, including:
- Mission operations;
- Science data collection, processing, and archiving;
- Calibration efforts;
- Science data availability, latency, and access;
- Ground systems.
Additionally, NASA is open to innovative arrangements involving full or partial use of existing mission operations teams on reimbursable terms. Partnerships may involve multiple organizations and should aim to continue some or all data products, making them broadly available to research and applications communities.
Period of Performance
The contract will be performed through the end of the ISS lifetime, currently anticipated to be at the end of fiscal year 2030.
Place of Performance
The work will be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS).
