ROSBio-2018 Appendix C: Development of Microgravity Food Production: Plant Watering, Volume Management, and Novel Plant Research on the International Space Station | NNH18ZTT001N PT

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is ROSBio-2018 Appendix C?

ROSBio-2018 Appendix C is a NASA space biology funding opportunity focused on developing practical, space-ready methods to grow edible plants in microgravity. It sits under NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space Biology (ROSBio) framework and emphasizes approaches that can mature into flight hardware and operational capability for the International Space Station (ISS) and future exploration missions.

What is the main goal of this appendix?

The main goal is integrated research and development (not just basic plant science) that improves the reliability, safety, and scalability of microgravity plant production, with a clear pathway toward eventual ISS demonstration and operational use.

What types of crops does NASA emphasize?

NASA emphasizes "pick-and-eat" edible crops that can be produced reliably over multiple generations in microgravity.

Which NASA organizations are running this opportunity?

This appendix is run as a collaboration between NASA's Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division (SLPSRAD) and Advanced Exploration Systems (AES).

What technology areas is NASA asking teams to address?

The solicitation highlights two closely related technology areas that are known challenges in microgravity agriculture: (1) improved water and nutrient delivery systems for edible plants, and (2) plant spacing systems that increase productivity per unit growing volume.

What is NASA looking for in water and nutrient delivery systems?

NASA is seeking systems that work in microgravity without creating hazardous free water while still providing uniform root-zone wetting and maintaining adequate aeration and oxygen around the roots. The aim is to avoid issues caused by microgravity water behavior (clinging, pooling, and unexpected migration) that can suffocate roots, increase microbial risks, or create safety and hardware concerns.

Why is free water a concern in microgravity plant growth?

In microgravity, water can behave unpredictably compared to Earth, where gravity helps separate and distribute water and air. Uncontrolled free water can create hazards for crew and hardware and can also harm plant roots by limiting oxygen and promoting microbial problems.

What is NASA looking for in plant spacing systems?

NASA is seeking spacing approaches that make better use of limited growing volume, helping increase productivity per unit volume and enabling practical scaling. This is important because crew time, rack space, and growth chamber volume are limited on the ISS.

What phases are described in the appendix, and what do they mean?

NASA describes a phased maturation path: Phase A focuses on early development and validation (including modeling and/or performance testing). Phase B advances prototype development and deeper system investigation. Phase C culminates in an on-orbit demonstration on the ISS.

Which phase is this appendix requesting proposals for?

This appendix is only requesting Phase A proposals.

Does winning Phase A automatically lead to Phase B and Phase C?

No. The structure indicates that only a subset of Phase A awardees would be invited to proceed to later phases, so Phase A functions as both development work and a down-select gate for the most promising approaches.

What is expected of Phase A proposals?

Phase A proposals are expected to go beyond a loose concept. Key design elements should be supported by analysis, modeling, bench testing, or other performance evidence showing the approach is likely to work and can support future efforts.

Is NASA interested only in engineering development, or also in scientific validation?

NASA signals interest in preliminary scientific investigations and validation experiments that show the system can operate successfully and support future plant research studies. The expectation is that the approach enables consistent, controllable growth conditions rather than being a one-off demonstration.

Are proposals required to fit within existing NASA plant growth hardware?

For Phase A, NASA is specifically interested in water/nutrient delivery and/or spacing systems that can fit into a NASA-furnished plant chamber.

Does NASA want systems that can be scaled up?

Yes. NASA indicates interest in concepts that could be scaled up, potentially to a full rack size for the ISS or future spacecraft.

What is the award type for Phase A?

Phase A awards are planned as cooperative agreements.

What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?

The opportunity notes that cooperative agreements typically imply NASA expects some level of involvement or collaboration during execution, which aligns with the goal of steering developments toward integration with NASA plant growth hardware and ISS operational constraints.

What is the maximum funding amount and period of performance for Phase A?

The award ceiling is $225,000 per award over an 18-month period for Phase A.

How many Phase A awards did NASA anticipate making?

NASA anticipated making about five Phase A awards.

What is the submission process for applications?

The application process uses a two-step structure: Step 1 is a pre-proposal, and Step 2 is a full proposal submitted by invitation.

When was the opportunity released?

The opportunity was released on June 7, 2019.

Was there a pre-proposal conference?

Yes. NASA scheduled a virtual pre-proposal conference for June 25, 2019 to explain objectives and logistics.

When were Step 1 pre-proposals due?

Step 1 pre-proposals were due July 5, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

When were Step 2 full proposals due?

Step 2 full proposals (by invitation) were due September 26, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Where could Step 1 proposals be submitted?

Step 1 submissions could be made through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or Grants.gov.

Are there special instructions for Step 2 submission?

Yes. Step 2 submission instructions are handled through the solicitation details, and Step 2 is by invitation.

What registration steps did NASA emphasize?

NASA emphasized registering early in NSPIRES and ensuring that both the organization and proposing team members (the PI and co-investigators) are registered. NASA also noted that electronic submission requires an authorized organizational representative.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to all categories of U.S. institutions, including universities, federal laboratories, private sector organizations, and state/local government laboratories.

Can international collaborators participate?

Yes. NASA allows participation by collaborators from other countries, with a stated exception excluding China.

What kind of solicitation is this considered?

The solicitation is issued as a broad agency announcement consistent with FAR 6.102(d)(2).

How does NASA expect selections to be funded?

Any resulting selections are expected to be funded via grants or cooperative agreements.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The funding opportunity is listed under CFDA 43.003.

How is the opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

Who should applicants contact for technical or scientific questions?

Programmatic and scientific questions are directed to Molly Anderson at NASA Johnson Space Center and Dr. David L. Tomko at NASA Headquarters.

Who should applicants contact for award or grants management questions?

Award and grants management questions are directed to Theresa Stanley at NASA Shared Services Center.

What is the overall message NASA is sending to applicants?

NASA is looking for practical, test-supported Phase A concepts that improve the reliability and safety of microgravity plant watering and make plant spacing more volume-efficient and scalable, with a clear line of sight to prototype development and eventual ISS demonstration.