PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS 5 AND 6 FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

This is a modification to the notice entitled "Private Astronaut Missions 5 and 6 Flight Opportunities" which was posted on March 31, 2025. You are notified that the following changes are made:

The NRA has been updated on NSPIRES:

https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=1083670/solicitationId=%7B21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/Research%20Opportunities%20for%20ISS%20Utilization%20NRA_06_18_2025%20Focus%20Area%204%20updates.pdf

The due date for responses is not extended.

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This is a modification to the notice entitled "Private Astronaut Missions 5 and 6 Flight Opportunities" which was posted on March 31, 2025. You are notified that the following changes are made:

PAMS 5 and 6 Questions and Answers are posted. 

The due date for responses is not extended.

______

This is a modification to the notice entitled "Private Astronaut Missions 5 and 6 Flight Opportunities" which was posted on March 31, 2025. You are notified that the following changes are made:

The Focus Area 4A NRA is being updated in order to:

1. Clarify the PAM Commander Experience section, to provide additional information related to prior participation in ISS USOS spaceflight operations and the refamiliarization plan. NASA has updated the PAM Commander criteria from prior PAM flight opportunities based on NASA’s experience gained from previous PAMs to ensure that PAMs are executed in a manner that reduces impact to the overall ISS mission and its operations.

2. Clarify the Alternate PAM Commander section to reflect the updates made in the PAM Commander Experience section. NASA has also modified Alternate PAM Commander eligibility under Focus Area 4A, Section 3.1(vii)(b).

3. Clarify that deviations from the PAM Integration flow and milestone template dates in PACE Annex 1 may be proposed

4. Clarify other areas of Focus Area 4A specifically in Section 3.1 – Proposal Content including the following sections

• Mission Business Approach
• Mission Integration Approach
• Mission Overview

5. Extend the Proposal Due date from May 30, 2025, to June 25, 2025

6. Re-open the Question and Answer period, ending June 2, 2025

7. Update the NRA to exclude the PAM Commander and Alternate PAM Commander Refamiliarization Plan from the 65 page count limit by adding each plan as a separate attachment which have a 5 page limit for the submittal of Refamiliarization Plans.  

8. Update Section 4.2 – Evaluation Criteria and Factor 1 Merit to clarify NASA expectations for proposals and explain how provided information will be evaluated

9. Clarify the Focus Area 4A.1 – Solicitation for Private Astronaut Missions’ Provider for Flight Opportunity  “PAM 5”  flight opportunity expected launch dates

10. Update minor editorial references

The NASA Research Announcement Focus Area 4A Section 5.0 – Selection and Award has been updated on NSPIRES at the following address:

https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7b21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373%7d&path=open

Please submit any questions regarding this solicitation in an email with the subject line “Q&A  PAM 5 and 6” to ashley.h.chaves@nasa.gov and elizabeth.kosobud@nasa.gov. Questions are due no later than June 2, 2025. Question and Answers will be posted via sam.gov.

The due date for responses is extended.

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This is a modification to the notice entitled "Private Astronaut Missions 5 and 6 Flight Opportunities" which was posted on March 31, 2025. You are notified that the following changes are made:

The Question and Answers are posted.

The NASA Research Announcement Focus Area 4A Section 5.0 – Selection and Award has been updated on NSPIRES at the following address:

https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7b21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373%7d&path=open

The due date for responses is not extended.

___

NASA has outlined a broad strategy to facilitate the Commercialization of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by U.S. companies (see NASA Interim Directive 8600.121: “Use of International Space Station for Commercial and Marketing Activities”). As part of that strategy, NASA is enabling private astronaut missions (PAMs) to the International Space Station (ISS). These private missions must use certified U.S. transportation vehicle that meet NASA’s ISS visiting vehicle requirements, policies, and procedures. 

NASA is solicitating proposals for two short duration flight opportunities with launch dates between no earlier than May 2026 and mid calendar-year 2027 for Phase II of Focus Area 4A. The maximum number of private astronauts per mission shall not exceed four (4), and the maximum planned docked duration shall not exceed 14 days. Mission concepts which include Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) performed by the Private Astronauts or involve Private Astronauts operating ISS Robotic Systems will not be considered allowable. 

Note that specific launch dates are dependent on ISS vehicle traffic and on-orbit activity planning and constraints. No white papers will be accepted as part of this solicitation. Proposals are due May 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM Central Daylight Time. 

Companies interested in this opportunity must visit the following link for the ISS NRA Solicitation, Focus Area 4 for PAMs 2026 and 2027, including applicable Attachments:

https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7b21E0270C-BC1F-EFC4-3D87-30713B5FF373%7d&path=open

Questions and Answers: 

Please submit any questions regarding this solicitation in an email with the subject line “Q&A  PAM 5 and 6” to ashley.h.chaves@nasa.gov and elizabeth.kosobud@nasa.gov. Questions are due no later than April 8, 2025. Question and Answers will be posted via sam.gov. 

To obtain access to the PAM Technical Resource Library (TRL), please email ashley.h.chaves@nasa.gov and elizabeth.kosobud@nasa.gov with the following information in the paragraph below. An email link will be provided via NASA EFSS BOX. Companies will have three business days to download the documents in the TRL.

Technical Resource Library Access:

Individuals requesting access to the export controlled scientific and technical information must provide the following information to the Contracting Officer by email through an authorized manager. That authorized individual shall verify that the information provided to NASA is correct, complete, and accurate.

Companies are responsible for ensuring their compliance with all U.S. export regulations: 

1) Full Company Name 

2) Company Address 

3) Is this a corporation, business association, partnership, society, trust, or any other entity, organization or group that is incorporated to do business in the United States? Yes [ ] No [ ] 

4) Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

5) Company Security or Human Resources Point of contact(s) providing/verifying information about the individual requesting access 

a. Name and Title 

b. Phone Number 

c. E-mail 

6) List the names of all individuals requesting access to the export controlled data including: 

a. Name 

b. The individual named above is [ ] or is not [ ] a U.S. person as defined in Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 120.15 

c. If the individual is not a U.S. person what is their citizenship? _________ 

ALTERNATE 6b: Citizenship: Specify Citizenship [ ] 

Non-U.S. Persons must list any other countries to which individual claims citizenship __________ 

List Place of Birth: _______________ 

All foreign nationals from designated countries covered by a Programmatic Technology Transfer Control Plan (PTTCP) or requiring access to export controlled information are required to have an Individual Technology Transfer Control Plan (I-TTCP) with a Non- Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Foreign nationals from non-designated countries requiring access to export-controlled information   covered by a P-TTCP are required to comply with the International Partner or Foreign National Certification contained in the P-TTCP.