Materials Investigation for Novel Operations in Space (MINOS)

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is issuing a Disruption Opportunity (DO), inviting submissions of innovative basic or applied research concepts in the technical domain of low-drag material system solutions for resident space objects (RSOs) in low Earth orbit (LEO). This DO is issued under the Program Announcement for Disruptioneering, DARPA-PA-23-03. All awards will be made in the form of an Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype project. The total award value for the combined Phase 1 base (Feasibility Study) and Phase 2 option (Proof of Concept) is limited to a maximum of $1,000,000. This total award value includes Government funding and performer cost share if required or proposed.

Work Details
The solicitation calls for proposals to advance the current state of the art in low-drag, high-AO-resistance material system solutions for use on LEO RSOs. Proposals must include an initial selection of a low-drag, high-AO-resistance material system with a description of the material’s composition and why it was selected, a quantitative assessment of how the proposed material solution will perform against program metrics, and a plan for refining the material system based on laboratory test results.
Additionally, proposers should outline their approach to advance the current state of the art and provide a qualitative description of the material system solution approach to illustrate feasibility on realistic geometries for RSOs.

Period of Performance
MINOS will consist of two phases: a 12-month Phase 1 Feasibility Study (base) and a 12-month Phase 2 Proof of Concept (option). For planning and budgetary purposes, proposers should assume a program start date of November 12, 2024. Schedules will be synchronized across performers, as required, and monitored/revised as necessary throughout the program’s period of performance.