Notice

Request for Information (RFI): UK Space Agency/Axiom Space Astronaut Mission Projects 2024/2025

Published 25 October 2023

All information must be submitted by 4pm on 22 November 2023.

Complete the Request for Information (RFI).

1. Introduction

The UK Space Agency and Axiom Space have signed an agreement to explore a commercially sponsored UK Astronaut Mission. This agreement paves the way for UK astronauts to conduct scientific research in orbit, and to inspire millions of us here on Earth. 

The potential future mission would see UK astronauts fly to space to carry out scientific research and technology demonstrations, building on the commitments in the UK Science and Technology Framework, and undertake education and outreach activities designed to engage more young people in STEM and future careers in the space sector.  

The prospect of a historic UK mission with Axiom Space has the potential to inspire a whole new generation to reach for the stars, while supporting our efforts to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world. We want to put the UK at the forefront of the global race for commercial space investment, continue to support scientists and engineers to test new technologies and carry out important research and, ultimately, bring the benefits back to people and businesses across the country. 

The potential future mission could be a flight to the International Space Station. To explore the potential benefits to the UK of such a flight, the UK is requesting information from the community on possible payloads.

To explore this opportunity, we are initially requesting ideas from the community through this Request for Information (RFI), responses to which will be used to gauge interest in the future grants call and inform UK Space Agency strategy and design, leading to the planned future call for this opportunity. We will then put out a call for proposals and ask applicants to submit a fully detailed and costed proposal for assessment. Please note that submitting information to the RFI is not a pre-requisite for submitting a proposal in the full call.

Should a mission become a reality, the Agency would support the development, integration, and flight of selected ideas. This opportunity would include the return of any hardware and/or samples back to Earth. Selected science experiments would be designed, developed, built, and qualified by the experiment team.

Selected technology demonstrators would require concepts that are at TRL 5 to 8 inclusive and in a state of flight readiness close to the time of launch. Axiom Space would provide assistance with integration in orbit and the payloads could be automated or require operation within astronaut time. Science experiments and demonstrators should be designed to achieve their objectives within 2 weeks.

2. Indicative timeline

RFI opens	25 October 2023
RFI closes	22 November 2023 at 4pm
Full Call opens	3 January 2024
Full Call closes	31 January 2024
Panel + funding decisions	14 February 2024
Awards	End-Feb

The maximum project duration (from development to flight integration) for full proposals will be 12 months. The indicative science experiment or technology demonstrator operation in orbit is anticipated to be approximately 2 weeks.

3. Objectives

The information gathered through this RFI will help the UK Space Agency gauge interest in the future grants call and inform UK Space Agency strategy and design, leading to the planned future call for this opportunity. Subject to further consideration, and learnings from this RFI, the later grants call supported by the UK Space Agency’s Exploration Programme and Axiom Space, will aim to enable the development of technology demonstrations and science experiments that will advance innovative technology and further research fields, utilising microgravity and the space environments. It will support UK organisations to secure the maximum scientific benefit and wider returns from the UK’s investments and world leading capabilities in science and technology.

For the RFI we welcome experiment ideas from all research areas, and in particular projects that further support the National Space Strategy, the UK Science and Technology Framework, or research priorities identified by the UKRI research councils, (including BBSRC, MRC, EPSRC, STFC, NERC). The proposed work may be a continuation of an existing programme of research, preparatory activities in orbit for potential longer-duration science experiments on future or other microgravity platforms, or a wholly new concept.

We also welcome ideas for applicable technology demonstrators that support the Technology Themes within the Agency’s Space Exploration Technology Roadmap. Interested parties should note the Agency is particularly interested in technologies that fall under the categories of Life Support & Crew Performance and In-Situ Resource Utilisation.

4. Process

4.1 Request for Information

Initially, with this RFI, the Agency is requesting questionnaire feedback and ideas for science experiments or technology demonstrators that could take place in orbit. Please note that submitting information to the RFI is not a pre-requisite for submitting a proposal in the future call.

The RFI is intended to be a request for information only. At this stage any information provided to UK Space Agency is submitted on an indicative basis and is solely for the purpose of policy development. The Astronaut Mission Projects programme is in the design phase and therefore details of the programme are subject to change. The UK Space Agency reserves the right to change any or all of the details set out within this RFI or to not proceed with the programme.

Participating in this RFI will not alter a respondent’s prospects of securing funding through the Astronaut Mission Projects programme when it is launched. It will also not influence or affect any bids submitted to other UK Space Agency programmes.

The target demographic for the programme is UK Higher Education Institutions, other research organisations (including not for profit organisations), SMEs, and industry. Academia-industry collaborations are encouraged and there is no restriction on which type of organisation can lead. All organisations must be based in the UK.

Interested parties should contact the UK Space Agency at spaceexploration@ukspaceagency.gov.uk if they have any questions.

4.2 Future call for proposals

When we release the call for proposals, applicants should submit a full, detailed project proposal. For science experiments, the project proposal submitted will be subject to a peer review of the science as well as a detailed review of the project as a whole. Further information will be provided for applicants when the Agency publishes the call text. A number of proposals will then be selected from those submitted to the call for development, integration, and flight. Please note that the above is indicative and non-exhaustive. All eligibility and process requirements will be provided within the call documents and call applications are subject to appropriate due diligence.

Potential projects must start no later than end-March 2024 with a flight-ready date of no later than April 2025.

5. Prospective Call Criteria

For the RFI, the Agency will not be evaluating the information provided by interested parties. It will solely be used by the Agency to gauge interest in the future grants call and inform UK Space Agency strategy and design, leading to the planned future call for this opportunity. However, interested parties should be mindful of the anticipated criteria for selection from the call.

As the Agency is requesting ideas for both science experiments and technology demonstrations the criteria for selection are split into 2 broad categories: science experiments, and technology demonstrations. Ideas should consider the limited availability of development time before flight.

Prospectively all proposals for projects which are science experiments or technology demonstrations must meet the following criteria for the anticipated call:

• the project must be led by a UK organisation (higher education institution, other research organisation, SME, or industry)
• projects should commence by end-March 2024, and deliver payloads for flight/integration by March 2025
• the project should be capable of being launched by April 2025
• the project should have a strong justification for requiring use of the ISS
• projects should be compatible with the operation constraints and capabilities of the ISS
• projects should take into consideration the practicalities and limitations of performing research on the ISS
• the project team would be expected to complete all necessary reviews, including Flight Safety, Flight Acceptance, and Flight Readiness reviews, as well as all necessary design reviews and other formal processes
• the project team will be required to undertake a variety of tasks as part of the project management for the science experiment or technology demonstrator including kick off meetings, progress reports, regular updates, and final project report.

Proposals for science experiments must also meet the following criteria:

• applicants understand that scientific exploitation of data would be expected to be funded by the research teams via other sources, such as UKRI

Proposals for technology demonstrations must meet the following criteria:

• Core technologies for demonstration should be at TRL 5-8 inclusive

5.1 Microgravity Facility Selection and Resource Use

Idea outlines should detail which microgravity facilities and/or resources that their science experiment or technology demonstrator would make use of. We have provided a list of ISS facilities.

When considering potential ideas, it’s advised that consideration is given to the practicalities and limitations of performing research in space. For example, Crew time, upload and download mass, volume, power, data and other resources may be limited. All payloads would need to pass safety certifications and other boards as applicable, including Medical Board, Security Control Board, Software Control Board, etc.

It’s anticipated that for life and biomedical experiments that utilise a human subject, ideas could make use of multiple subjects (up to 4 flight crew) if appropriate to the research objectives. It would be useful to understand whether ground resources (eg, baseline data collection) will be required.

6. How to Respond to this RFI

Complete the Request for Information (RFI).

The Agency encourages you to read the instructions provided in the form carefully.

7. Next Steps

We intend to consider the responses to this Request for Information to inform further development of the programme.

At this stage any information provided to UK Space Agency is submitted on an indicative basis and is solely for the purpose of policy development. The Astronaut Mission Projects programme is in the design phase and therefore details of the programme are subject to change. The UK Space Agency reserves the right to change any or all of the details set out within this RFI or to not proceed with the programme.

Participating in this RFI will not alter a respondent’s prospects of securing funding through the Astronaut Mission Projects programme when it is launched. It will also not influence or affect any bids submitted to other UK Space Agency programmes.

The assessment process for any future award made via the Astronaut Mission Projects programme will ensure value for money and that the programme’s support is both required and likely to be effective.

It is likely that the review process for the call, alongside peer review of the science, will include consideration of the following:

• benefit to humanity (links to the UK Space Agency and wider government priorities, benefits to Earth and space)
• timeliness (justification for use of ISS platform, relevance/urgency of idea)
• feasibility (practicality of project given Microgravity Facility constraints, feasibility of timeline outlined, readiness of project partners, operational requirements, cost)

Interested parties are encouraged to consider these criteria when considering ideas to the RFI.

8. Confidentiality

The procedure for submitting and handling responses to the RFI:

• responses submitted through the RFI must be submitted via the MS Form only
• information may also be shared with other UK government departments, agencies and arm’s length bodies
• information will be retained by the UK Space Agency for reference
• a report based on the information submitted through the RFI may be shared with Axiom Space

All information provided may be considered by the UK Space Agency and other government departments for use in policy development. In providing the information requested in this document you confirm that you are providing written consent that the information provided may be shared with other departments, agencies, public bodies and subsidiaries owned by the above, and their advisors.

Information you provide in response to this Request for Information, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with any applicable law (including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004), by order of a court or as required by any body or inquiry which has the power to compel disclosure.

We will process your personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws.

To find out more please read our privacy policy. If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please tell us but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances.

9. Further Information

For further information and for any questions about any aspect of this call please contact:

spaceexploration@ukspaceagency.gov.uk

UK Space Agency,

North Star Avenue,

Swindon

SN2 1SZ