Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

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NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

www.nasa.gov

NASA Flight Opportunities

Session will start at 10 a.m. PT – Please mute your microphone and turn off your camera

Community of Practice Webinar Series – May 4, 2023

Rudy De Rosee, Program Systems Engineer, NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program

Explore the Opportunities Available with NASA’s University SmallSat

Technology Partnership Initiative 

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NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

Welcome to the Community of Practice Webinar Series!

First, a bit of housekeeping...

• Please mute your microphone and turn off your camera

• Today’s session will be recorded

• Recordings for this and all future sessions will be posted on the Flight 

Opportunities website

• Please engage!

• Use the chat throughout the session to ask questions

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

2

NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

Join us for future Community of Practice webinars!

Advancing Technologies for Space 

Medicine in Suborbital Flight

George Pantalos, Ph.D., University of Louisville

Kathleen Karika, Virgin Galactic

June 7 at 10 a.m. PDT

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Future webinars

• Webinars are held 1st Wednesday of each 

month at 10 a.m. PT

• Topics will be announced in the Flight 

Opportunities newsletter and website

• Session recordings will be posted on the 

Flight Opportunities website

• Let us know session topics you would like 

to see covered

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WITH SMALL SPACECRAFT 

The Small Spacecraft Technology program expands the ability to 

execute unique missions through rapid development and 

demonstration of capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to 

exploration, science, and the commercial space sector.

THROUGH SUBORBITAL FLIGHT

The Flight Opportunities program rapidly demonstrates promising 

technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion 

of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight 

providers.

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

3

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Both Flight Opportunities and Small Spacecraft Technology aim to test and advance technologies as quickly as possible. The two 

programs creatively use a variety of funding mechanisms to mature innovative solutions for the Nation’s technology needs.

Announcements of 

Collaboration Opportunity

Tipping Points

Unsolicited Proposals 

and Other Mechanisms Challenges Solicitations

Missions of Opportunity

Flights of Opportunity

MECHANISMS FOR FUNDING FLIGHT TESTS TO AID TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

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• In-Space Manufacturing/ ISS 

Program Office

• Intergovernmental support 

(Department of Defense, 

USDA)

• TechFlights Reflights

• Space Act Agreements

• Grant Extensions

• Broad Agency Announcements 

(BAA)

• Unsolicited Proposals

• Interagency Agreements

• Other mechanisms (Center-led, 

FFRDC / UARC task, etc.)

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NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

Upcoming Opportunities

NASA TechFlights 2023

• Provides up to $1 million for testing space technologies in relevant environments through flights on 

U.S. commercial suborbital rockets, rocket-powered lander vehicles, high-altitude balloons, and aircraft following 

reduced-gravity flight profiles, as well as for payloads hosted on commercial orbital platforms.

• This year, Flight Opportunities will prioritize:

• Impact of the proposed flight test relative to the amount of funding requested and expected post-flight outcomes. 

• Decreasing the amount of time between award and flight testing, with a goal of accelerating the pace of technology 

development.

Key Dates

• Live Q&A: May 10, 2023, at 2pm EDT

• Mandatory Preliminary Proposals due: June 7, 2023, at 5pm EDT

• Full proposals (by invitation only) due: October 4, 2023, at 5pm EDT

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

4

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES MAKE FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE

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Rocket-Powered Vehicles High-Altitude Balloons Parabolic Flights

Vertical Takeoff Vertical 

Landing (VTVL) Vehicles

Orbital Platforms

Hosting Payloads

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NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

Today’s Presenter

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Rudy De Rosee

Programs Systems Engineer

NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

5

NASA FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

www.nasa.gov

NASA Flight Opportunities

Community of Practice

May 2023 | Rudy De Rosee

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SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSION DIRECTORATE

SMALL SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

NASA SST’s

University Smallsat

Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe “Rudy” De Rosée

Program Systems Engineer

USTP Technical Monitor

NASA STMD Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program

Flight Opportunities (FO) program Community of Practice

Wednesday 2nd May 2023

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

6

Released! 

University Smallsat Technology Partnerships (USTP)

2023 Solicitation

https://tinyurl.com/NASA-23USTP

Mandatory Preliminary Proposal due date: Tuesday 16th May 2023, 5:00pm E.T.

Full Proposal due date: Tuesday 18th July 2023, 5:00pm E.T.

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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1) Overview of the University Smallsat Technology Partnerships mechanism

2) How to apply

3) Discussion of Success Stories and Questions

Agenda

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

7

1) Overview of the University Smallsat Technology Partnerships mechanism

2) How to apply

3) Discussion of Success Stories and Questions

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Agenda

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NASA SST Overview

NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program expands the 

United States’ ability to execute unique missions through rapid 

development and demonstration of capabilities for small 

spacecraft applicable to exploration, science and the commercial 

space sector.

Performed through targeted development and frequent in-space 

testing:

• Enabling execution of missions at much lower cost than previously possible

• Substantially reducing the time required for development of spacecraft

• Enabling new mission architectures that small spacecraft are uniquely 

suited for

• Expand the capability of small spacecraft to execute missions at new 

destinations and in challenging new environments

• Enabling the augmentation of existing assets and future missions with 

supporting small spacecraft

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NASA SST’s CAPSTONE mission

12U form factor Small Spacecraft

Credit: NASA/Rocket Lab/Advanced 

Space/Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

8

• Advance novel technologies for 

Smallsats useful to NASA and industry

• Leverage unique talents and fresh 

perspectives from the university 

community

• Share NASA experience and expertise in 

relevant university projects

• Engage NASA personnel in rapid, agile 

and cost-conscious small spacecraft approaches that characterize university 

teams

• Foster a new generation of innovators 

for NASA and the nation

Rationale – University Smallsat Technology Partnerships

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

 NASA benefits from rapid, innovative academic processes yielding new technologies 

 Universities gain experience and recognition through hands-on NASA collaborations

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SST’s University Smallsat Technology Partnerships

The SST program sponsors regular University Smallsat Technology Partnerships:

• 2-year PI-led cooperative agreements between a U.S. university team and a NASA center to develop specific technologies for small spacecraft

• $225k/year + 0.5 FTE/year for NASA/JPL partner + $30k procurement funding for 

NASA/JPL partner center

• Cooperative Agreements for maximum duration of two years

• Year 2 funding contingent on Year 1 progress

• Competitive solicitations – specific technology topics vary

• Starting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3-5 • Advancement of at least +2 TRL levels is expected by end of period of performance

• Advancement to at least system-level TRL 6 is desired by end of period of performance

• Smallsat defined as spacecraft with a mass of 180 kg or less and capable of being launched into space as an auxiliary or secondary payload (~ESPA-class)

Arizona State 

University

San Diego State 

University

Image credits - USTP 2020 cohort:

California State 

University, Los Angeles

University of 

Colorado, Boulder

University of 

California, Los Angeles

University of 

Texas, Austin

Utah State 

University

University of 

California, Irvine

University of Illinois, 

Urbana-Champaign

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

9

Funded Extensions

The SST program may approve requests within a limited time period of the USTP effort for a 

funded extension to cover specific activities in support of a technology demonstration flight 

through:

• NASA Flight Opportunities (FO) program

• E.g. Parabolic flights, High-altitude balloons, Suborbital rocket, Hosted-Orbital

• Requires selection by FO program

• See FO annual Tech Flights solicitation

• NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI)

• Orbital freeflyer technology demonstration

• Requires selection by CSLI

• See annual CSLI solicitation

• Other as-yet unspecified opportunity • Contingent upon respecting all applicable U.S. laws

• Contingent upon respecting SST guidelines

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Past Technology Topic Areas

18 NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

STP 

Cohort

2013 2015 2016 2018 2020

Technology Topic Areas

Communications Avionics / Command & 

Data Handling 

Subsystem

Enhanced Power 

Generation and 

Storage

Instruments for 

SmallSats including 

Multiple SmallSats

Lunar Communications 

and Navigation 

Network

GN&C Communication 

Subsystem 

Cross-linking 

Communications 

Systems

Technologies That 

Enable Large Swarms 

of Small Spacecraft

Smallsat Propulsion for 

Lunar Missions

Propulsion Ground Data Systems Relative 

Navigation for 

Multiple Small 

Spacecraft

Technologies That 

Enable Deep Space 

Small Spacecraft 

Missions

Advanced Electrical 

Power and Thermal 

Management

Power Guidance Navigation & 

Control / Attitude 

Determination & 

Control Subsystem 

Instruments and 

Sensors for Small 

Spacecraft Science 

Missions

Solicitation encourages 

grant extensions for 

suborbital, orbital 

flight demo

Science Instrument 

Capabilities

Payloads 

Advanced 

Manufacturing

Power Subsystem 

Propulsion Subsystem 

Structures and 

Mechanisms

Subsystem-Oriented System-Oriented Mission-Oriented Pivot to Lunar Missions

Manufacturing LEO Deep Space, Multi-Spacecraft Exploration Infrastructure

Instruments Instruments Instruments

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

10

2023 Technology Topic Areas

19 NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Technology Topic Areas:

• Earth- and Global Navigation Satellite System- Independent Position Navigation and Timing for Small 

Spacecraft

• Edge Computing and Machine-Learning Architectures, 

Software, Platforms, and Devices for Small Spacecraft

• High Specific Power Systems and Thermal Control for 

Small Spacecraft

To be addressed at either Target Operational Domains:

• A: Enabling Cislunar and Deep Space Exploration with Small Spacecraft

• B: Improving the Performance and Resiliency of Future Civil and Commercial Small Spacecraft 

in Earth Orbit

 Solicitation encourages Cooperative Agreement funded extensions for suborbital and orbital 

flight demonstrations

 8 awards anticipated in 2023 across all three Technology Topic Areas

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USTP Partnership Successes to Date

• Investments:

• Over $26,468,000 awarded

• 46 partnerships in 5 class years

• 28 universities in 19 states

• 8 of 10 NASA centers partnered

• Results:

• 22 flight demonstrations performed/planned

• 1 Intersatellite Network Planning/ Routing tool 

software open-sourced

• Numerous New Technology Reports / Patents

• 30+ conference presentations

• 50+ papers published

• 100+ students involved

• Many technology readiness levels (TRL) raised 20

2013: $6,500,000 17 awards; 13 Y2 option

2015: $3,590,150 8 awards; 8 Y2 option

2016: $4,676,693 8 awards; 8 Y2 option

2018: $5,802,500 8 awards; 8 Y2 option

2020: $5,900,000 9 awards; 9 Y2 option

NASA SSTP SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

11

1) Overview of the University Smallsat Technology Partnerships mechanism

2) How to apply

3) Discussion of Success Stories and Questions

Agenda

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Apply through NASA’s NSPIRES portal

• https://tinyurl.com/NASA-23USTP

• Start process early (complex process that involves 

multiple steps to be carried out by all participants in 

the proposal)

The USTP solicitation is an appendix to STMD’s annual 

SpaceTech-REDDI umbrella NASA Research 

Announcement (NRA)

• The USTP appendix content has precedence over the 

umbrella content

• Scope not covered in the USTP appendix is covered by 

the umbrella NRA content

Two-step selection process:

• Mandatory Preliminary Proposal (MPP)

• Full Proposal (upon invitation following MPP review)

Application Process (1/3)

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

12

Partnering between the university team and a NASA center 

or Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is required

• NASA team member must be either a civil servant or a 

member of the technical staff from JPL

• NASA partner can be TBD for the MPP

• NASA partner shall be identified for the Full Proposal

• See solicitation for NASA Center POCs

Application Process (2/3)

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Eligibility is limited to U.S. college and university teams, including faculty, undergraduate and/or graduate 

students. The Principal Investigator (PI) submitting a proposal and leading a university team shall be 

affiliated with a U.S. college or university (including community colleges), accredited in and having a campus 

located in the U.S

Goals of this solicitation include collaboration with university teams that have experience in small spacecraft 

development and the extension of support to colleges and universities that have little or no previous 

involvement in this field. Colleges and universities with experience in small spacecraft development are 

encouraged to team with other college and universities to address these dual goals. 

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Address one Technology Topic Area only

• Identify the primary Target Operational Domain for that 

Technology Topic Area

• Identify if technology also applies to other Target Operational 

Domain and under what circumstances it does

• Technology proposed should be an improvement over the 

state-of-the-art

Key dates:

• Appendix Issued: April 25, 2023

• MPP Due: May 16, 2023, 5:00 pm ET

• MPP Downselect Date: June 9, 2023 (TARGET)

• Full Proposals Due: July 18, 2023, 5:00 pm ET

• Selections Announcement: August 11, 2023 (TARGET)

• Awards Issued: September 11, 2023 (TARGET)

Application Process (3/3)

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

13

Evaluation Criteria:

Criterion 1 – Relevance and Impact (Weight 50%)

Criterion 2 – Technical Approach (Weight 50%)

Mandatory Preliminary Proposals Content

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Section # MPP Section Maximum Length

1 Title Page and Proposal Summary 2 pages

2 Introduction

3 pages for the combined 

Sections 2 - 5

3 Relevance and Impact

4 Technical Approach

5 Qualifications and Capabilities

--- Summary Chart

(separate document uploaded on 

NSPIRES, see Section 4.1.6)

1 page

Maximum Size of combined documents: Not to Exceed 20 MB

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Evaluation Criteria:

Criterion 1 – Relevance and Impact (Weight 45%)

Criterion 2 – Technical and Management Approach (Weight 45%)

Criterion 3 – Cost (Weight 10%)

Full Proposals Content

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Section # Full Proposal Section Maximum Length

1 Title Page and Proposal Summary 2 pages

2 Table of Contents 1 page

3 Relevance and Impact 4 pages

4 Technical and Management Approach 4 pages

5 Schedule Summary 1 page

6 Budget Summary (Table) 1 page

7 Budget Justification As needed, no page limit

8 References & Citations As needed, no page limit

9 Letters of Commitment and Statements of 

Support As needed, no page limit

--- Summary Chart

(separate document uploaded on 

NSPIRES, see Section 4.2.10)

1 page

Maximum Size of combined documents: Not to Exceed 20 MB

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Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

14

• Questions pertaining to the solicitation should be submitted via email to the 

NASA Point of Contact, Christopher Baker, SST and FO Program Executive no 

later than later than May 4, 2023 (5:00 pm Eastern)

• HQ-STMD-SST-Partnerships@nasaprs.com

• Solicitation should include all necessary information for application

• FAQ will be posted on NSPIRES page after Thursday May 4

• See Section 9 of solicitation for additional resources

• https://www.nasa.gov/smallspacecraft

• https://www.nasa.gov/flightopportunities

• https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_initiative

• and more... 

• See USTP website and related material

• https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_spacecraft/smallsat- technology-partnership-initiative

• https://www.nasa.gov/smallsat-institute/2022-techexpo-agenda

• https://www.nasa.gov/smallsat-institute/2021-techexpo-agenda

Questions and Further Information

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1) Overview of the University Smallsat Technology Partnerships mechanism

2) How to apply

3) Discussion of Success Stories and Questions

Agenda

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

28
Flight Opportunities and NASA’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

Rodolphe De Rosee

May 3, 2023

Community of Practice Webinar Series

NASA Flight Opportunities

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/community-of-practice

15

Example Success Stories

NASA SST University SmallSat Technology Partnerships

• Utah State University’s Active Thermal Architectures (ATA) technology will 

be flying aboard NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office’s Active Cooling 

for Multispectral Earth Sensors (ACMES) mission 

• Stanford’s STP-supported autonomous and distributed navigation 

technologies are slated for three different upcoming CubeSat swarm 

missions, starting with NASA’s Starling multi-CubeSat technology 

demonstration scheduled for launch in 2023

• See: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/nasa-supported-universityresearch-slated-for-upcoming-cubesat-missions

Discussion:

• NASA CHOMPTT mission and related technologies – Anh Nguyen

• MIT HiSPEED/STEP-1 technology and mission – Gustav Petterson

NASA CHOMPTT 

Mission

MIT HiSPEED/STEP-1 

Mission

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

STAY ENGAGED:

NASA.GOV/FLIGHTOPPORTUNITIES

NASA.GOV/SMALLSPACECRAFT

Visit our websites for more information and 

resources, including our newsletter and monthly 

Community of Practice webinars.

Reach out:

NASA-FlightOpportunities@mail.nasa.gov

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