If you have specific questions that are not answered here, please contact Sustainability@ISSNationalLab.org
Which Implementation Partner or ISS National Lab facility possesses the resources and abilities for my project?
Please visit our Implementation Partner (IP) webpage, where each IP presents an overview of its capabilities to enable a quick assessment of those that may best fit your needs. CASIS follows a specific process for Implementation Partner selection by the PI after a Step 1: Concept Summary submission is approved. For ISS National Lab facilities, the ISS Researcher Guide Series is a useful starting point, with a more detailed listing available at the Space Station Research Explorer website.
From my understanding, the proposals will be focused on the reduction of plastics and plastic waste that are coming from space activities. Is that correct?
The Sustainability Challenge seeks to leverage the ISS and its unique environment, such as microgravity, to research solutions and processes to reduce plastic waste and to seek alternatives to plastics for use on Earth. We are not seeking to address the use of plastics in space, but rather how we can contribute to solutions to the plastics dilemma on Earth.
Does the 2022 ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge: Beyond Plastics funding opportunity allow multiple concept submissions from the same institution?
U.S. persons or institutions are welcome to submit multiple concepts. For those PIs wishing to submit multiple concepts, the emphasis areas/topics must be different for each concept proposed.
Can the funds be used to for PI salaries?
Yes the funding can be used to support personnel. As stated in the presentation instructions document:
Project costs are those direct costs (e.g., salary, fringe benefits, equipment, materials, supplies, user facility costs, subcontracts (excluding Implementation Partner costs) and indirect costs (e.g., overhead (OH) and general and administrative (G&A), or finance and administrative costs (F&A)) to manage the project.
Funding is limited for the Sustainability Challenge. The level of funding requested will be a factor in the final selection. We recommend that applicants secure additional funding sources outside of their proposal to the ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge. Although additional/matching funds are not required, the amount of such funding provided will be a consideration for the applied award.
Should we calculate the cost of performing an experiment on the ISS? Is there a fee chart available?
There is no need to calculate the cost of doing the experiment on station. CASIS will provide transportation for the experiment to and from the ISS using our allocation from NASA.
For the Presentation, am I allowed to include additional slides beyond the 7 that are specified
in the template?
Yes. As long as you cover all of the content detailed in the presentation template slides 1-7, either on a single or on multiple slides, you are welcome to add any charts/pictures/other content as well, as long as it all fits within your 5 minute presentation. Any additional details or supplementary content that you will not be presenting or that is that is confidential or proprietary should be placed in the backup slides.
