This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This is not a request for proposal or quotation, nor is this a solicitation for a contract or grant award. This RFI does not obligate the Government in any way.

The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with the information submitted in response to this request. The Government will treat each submission in confidence.

Background

For the past 48 years, Landsat satellites and associated U.S. Government ground processing, distribution, and archiving systems have acquired and made available global, moderate-resolution (15-120 meter) multispectral measurements of land and coastal regions, providing our longest record of Earth’s land areas from space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) of the Department of the Interior (DOI) fully recognize that this information is a national asset, providing an important and unique capability that benefits a broad community, including Federal, state, and local governments, global change science and academia, and international and private sectors. Landsat data provide a consistent, well calibrated, and reliable foundation for research on land use change, forest health, and carbon inventories, and changes to our environment, climate, and natural resources. Additionally, the free and open availability of the Landsat data enables the measurements to be used routinely by decision makers both inside and outside the Government, for a wide range of natural resource issues, including water resource management, wildfires, agricultural productivity, rangeland management, and understanding impacts of climate variability on ecosystems.

More information on Landsat can be found at http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and http://landsat.usgs.gov/.

The USGS currently operates two spacecraft, Landsat 7 and 8, both developed by NASA.  Landsat 9, a near copy of Landsat 8, is under development by NASA and USGS and is expected to begin operations in 2021.   Each spacecraft operates in a Sun synchronous, 705 km orbit, with an equatorial crossing time of 10:00 a.m. + or - 15 minutes, and (nadir) revisit of 16 days.  Landsat 8 and 9 each host two instruments:  the Operational Land Imager (OLI) providing multispectral imaging from the solar reflective spectrum (visible through shortwave infrared) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) providing imagery in the emitted (thermal infrared) part of the spectrum.   Beginning in 2021, USGS will operate Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 from a Landsat Multi-Satellite Mission Operations Center (LMOC), scalable for additional fleet operations.

Under an inter-agency agreement between NASA and USGS, the U.S. intends to continue implementation of a robust spaceborne, land imaging system to ensure that necessary data are collected, processed into useful and efficient information products, and are archived and broadly distributed for use by the wide range of interested communities. 

Beyond Landsat 9:  Land Imaging Architecture Studies

During 2018-2019, a joint agency Architecture Study Team (AST) sponsored by NASA and the USGS conducted a preliminary analysis of options for Landsat continuity and evolution beyond Landsat 9.  Important considerations included:

• Collecting and archiving moderate-resolution solar reflective and thermal infrared image data, affording substantially cloud-free coverage of the global landmass for a minimum mission life of 5 years and a goal of 10 years.
• Provision of data sufficiently consistent with data from earlier Landsat missions in terms of calibration, coverage characteristics, spectral and spatial characteristics, output data quality and data availability, to enable the detection and quantitative characterization of changes on the global land surface over multi-decadal periods;
• Free and open access to a continuous data stream of moderate resolution data of the quality and frequency of acquisition consistent with the 48 plus years of Landsat observations, supporting development and dissemination of a wide range of data products on a nondiscriminatory basis and at no cost to the users.

The architecture team considered the evolving landscape of U.S. land imaging, including increased capabilities from both international partners (e.g., the European Union’s Sentinel-2 satellites) and the commercial sector.   Key inputs into the team’s work included user needs documented by the USGS Requirements, Capabilities and Analysis for Earth Observation (RCA-EO) survey of US Land Imaging users, discussions with the Landsat Science Team, reports by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (National Academies) and the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), and targeted workshops with subject-matter experts. In addition, the study was informed by the technology portfolio derived from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) programs, as well as responses to a Request for Information (RFI) to industry in late 2018.   A wide range of architecture options were examined, and evaluated against metrics describing user needs satisfied, and known cost constraints.

Landsat Next Mission Concept

As an outcome of the AST study, NASA and USGS have recently advanced a Landsat Next mission concept centered around collection of “superspectral” land observations, featuring both richer spectral information and higher spatial resolution compared to Landsat 8 and 9 (see attached Draft Landsat Next Mission Science Requirements for details).  Landsat Next is expected to be designated as a Category 1, Risk Class B development under the NASA mission risk classification system.  For planning purposes Landsat Next operations would be expected to begin in the late-2020s.  Key aspects of the Landsat Next concept include:

• Collection of imagery with higher spatial resolution for improved agricultural monitoring, ecological monitoring, urban studies, water resources management and other applications.  Increased spatial resolution was documented as a high priority by the USGS RCA-EO and represents an evolution of user needs given recent experience with European Union (EU) Copernicus Programme’s Sentinel-2 imagery (10/20-meter resolution) and commercial imagery. 
• The Landsat Next bands also replicate the core set of bands from the Sentinel-2 constellation, allowing users to merge data from the two systems to achieve near-daily coverage for many applications.
• Acquisition of a limited number of additional, targeted spectral bands to significantly improve the suitability of U.S. land imaging data for new and evolving applications, including surface water quality, cryospheric science, geology, and agricultural applications including crop water consumption.  Additional thermal infra-red (TIR) bands would allow improved estimation of surface temperature by constraining emissivity.
• Preservation of spatial, geometric, and radiometric requirements reflecting Landsat 8/9 heritage, with required signal to noise ratio (SNR) comparable to Landsat 8 OLI performance once aggregated to 30m, and NEdT <0.2K for normal Earth temperatures. 

In addition to higher spatial resolution and more spectral information, Landsat users expressed a strong desire for more frequent observations.   The proposed Landsat Next mission concept maintains at least 8-day coverage via two operational US systems (i.e., Landsat 9, Landsat Next).  

A short comparison of proposed Landsat Next Mission Science Requirements compared to Landsat 8/9 is shown below in Table 1, see Attachment A. 

NASA and USGS are considering a variety of implementation options for the Landsat Next space segment, and feedback on those options is a key goal of this RFI.  Previous Landsat missions have been flown using a single fully redundant satellite platform with ~15-degree field of view for the instruments, and this “single platform” model is one option under consideration for Landsat Next.  However, the project is also considering a constellation approach.  In this approach, several (~3-5) platforms with a narrower field of view would fly in coordination, collectively generating sufficient data to comprise the <=16-day global land revisit (Table 2).  Potential advantages of the constellation approach include:

• Improved system resiliency to failure of a single platform or instrument;
• Risk Class B mission performance through aggregation of Class C or lower (limited/no redundancy) platforms by building one or more spares at the satellite level;
• Improved revisit frequency if on-orbit spare(s) are used to supplement the core constellation;
• Potential cost savings associated with a block buy of multiple, smaller instruments/platforms.
• Creation of a sustainable architecture that may enable technology infusion sooner on future missions to address evolving user needs.

Regardless of whether NASA and USGS pursue a single-platform or constellation architecture, the orbit will remain sun synchronous with a repeating ground track, with an approximately 10:00am equatorial crossing time.  However, the heritage 705km orbital altitude and World Reference System 2 ground track are not considered requirements, so that the altitude may be optimized for potential improvements in revisit frequency. 

From an instrumentation perspective a new generation of focal planes, combined with new technologies such as freeform optics, should allow acquisition of more spectral bands in a smaller instrument envelope.  Given science desire for simultaneous acquisition of all spectral measurements, it is anticipated that each Landsat Next satellite platform would host either a single instrument acquiring all visible-through-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) spectral bands, or two instruments acquiring the VSWIR and TIR spectral bands separately.  The constellation approach, if pursued, assumes an identical instrument complement on each small platform, although other alternatives may be considered. 

Table 2.  Current Landsat Next Space Segment architecture options, see Attachment A.

Landsat Next Operations Concept

• Space segment will operate in a polar, frozen, sun-synchronous orbit with repeating ground track, employing propulsive maneuvers for orbit maintenance
• Space segment may either be implemented as a single, larger satellite observatory, or a small satellite constellation (approximately 3-5 satellites) performing coordinated imaging observations
  • If a constellation approach is chosen, the aggregate satellites together must achieve risk Class B.  
• Launch segment may employ a single launch vehicle for either single-satellite or constellation-of-satellites approach or, if a constellation, may also employ multiple or shared launches of small launch vehicles
• Space segment will include imaging capabilities as described in the RFI and draft Science Mission Requirements Document (SMRD), Attachment B.
• Ground Segment may continue with use of the existing Landsat Multi-mission Operations Center (LMOC) located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), or may pursue a commercial service-based mission operations center
• Primary command uplink and engineering and science data downlink via a small set of geographically diverse ground stations, employing S/X/Ka-band RF links
  • May employ the use of commercial service-based ground station networks for augmentation
  • Interface with International Cooperators either via RF direct downlink or via land-based post-downlink distribution
• Science data processing and distribution will employ cloud-based processing and distribution
• Implement improved autonomy onboard the spacecraft to minimize frequency of commanding and increase fault management robustness
• Acquire imagery continuously over all continental land and coastal margins, as for Landsats 8/9
• Perform regular calibration of instruments to maintain heritage Landsat data quality.  Calibration hardware and operations will be dependent on instrument design.  Current Landsat 8 calibration operations include:
  • VSWIR:
    • Dark (shutter) data acquisition every orbit
    • Daily onboard calibration lamp acquisition
    • Weekly solar calibration target acquisition
    • Monthly lunar acquisition
  • TIR:
    • Dark data acquisition every orbit
    • Blackbody calibrator acquisition every orbit
    • Deep space acquisition every orbit
• Operate the mission for a nominal five year lifetime, with consumables as noted in the RFI for extended mission operations as possible
• Comply with all applicable regulations to ensure safe and reliable end-of-life disposal

Request for Information

NASA and USGS are seeking information on (A) the suitability of the Landsat Next SMRD for user applications; and (B) potential instrumentation approaches that best address these science requirements while minimizing system cost and risk; and (C) mission architecture approaches (flight and ground segments), including those that may differ in part or in whole from the current concepts as described above (while still meeting the mission requirements and risk posture, and minimizing system cost.)  Of interest are comments discussing the technical viability of meeting the draft mission science requirements using compact instrumentation suitable for a constellation approach.   Accordingly, this RFI has three parts (“A,” “B,” and “C”) with groups of questions targeted toward end users, instrumentation, and mission architecture, respectively.  Respondents may choose to respond to one, or more parts of the RFI.  Additional instructions for respondents are listed below. 

 (A) User Feedback on Mission Science Requirements

NASA and USGS wish to obtain feedback on the suitability of the draft Landsat Next mission science requirements to support end-user land imaging needs in the 2020s and 2030s.  Respondents to part A should identify their land remote sensing application area and describe their current use of Landsat or other land remote sensing data and products. 

1.  Discuss the overall suitability and/or desirability of the proposed Landsat Next Mission Science requirements, with reference to specific application areas.  Provide any comments on the proposed new spectral bands, including their placement, proposed bandpass, spatial resolution, and radiometric requirements.

2.  Discuss the importance/desirability of four potential changes to the requirements:

a.  Increasing the spatial resolution of the shortwave infrared (SWIR) 1 band (1610nm) from 20-meters to 10-meters (note that this may result a lower SNR requirement at 10-meter resolution);

b.  Adding a midwave infrared (MWIR, 3.9 micrometer) band to support active fire detection, mapping of volcanic activity, and measurement of fire radiative power.  Discuss the specific benefits provided by a 3.9 micrometer band in addition to the existing shortwave and thermal infrared bands;

c.  Adding a small, off-nadir (along-track pointing) camera covering the visible spectral region at 60m resolution to improve cloud and aerosol mapping.

d.  Adjusting the equatorial crossing time from 10:00am to 10:15am, which would better align with the Sentinel-2 crossing time of 10:30am, but deviate slightly from the historic Landsat crossing time

3.  Discuss the synergistic use of Landsat Next and Sentinel-2 (or other international or commercial) data, and the ability of an international “virtual constellation” to meet user desire for more frequent observations.  Identify any improvements in mission operations or data products that would support combined use of these systems. 

4.  Discuss improvements in USGS data products, archive, or delivery that you would want to see in the Landsat Next era. 

(B) Feedback on Instrumentation Solutions

NASA and USGS wish to obtain feedback from industry and other space system providers on the feasibility of Landsat Next requirements, and the optimal instrumentation for meeting those requirements.  Respondents to part B should identify their organization and provide a brief statement of background. 

1..Discuss the technical feasibility of developing instrumentation that meets the Draft Mission Science Requirements, identifying any specific technical challenges or drivers.   Discuss how these technical drivers may impact overall system size, weight, and power (SWaP), overall cost, and development risks. 

2.  Provide an overall instrument concept (or concepts) to meet draft requirements.   Discuss how the concept fits into either a single-platform or constellation architecture.  Specifically discuss:

a.  Spectral range measured (e.g. visible to shortwave infrared [VSWIR] only, TIR only, or both)

b.  Optical design, including field of view and telescope

c.  Detector and focal plane approach

d.  The ability to meet radiometric, geometric, spatial, spectral, and data quality requirements (including heritage Landsat 8 requirements for stray light, ghosting, uniformity, etc., referenced at https://esto.nasa.gov/files/SLIT2015/RMAKeyParameters.pdf)

e.  Radiometric calibration approach and assessment of radiometric stability

f.  Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the system components. 

g.  Best estimate for payload size, weight, and power, as well as ROM cost.

3.  As noted in A(2) above, three of the four changes under consideration include increasing the spatial resolution of the SWIR1 band to 10-meters, adding a midwave infrared band at 3.9 micrometers, and adding a small off-nadir camera.   Discuss the impact of those potential changes on the instrument concept (including size, weight, power, and cost).

(C)  Mission Architecture Approaches

NASA and USGS are interested in feedback pertaining to the overall mission architecture, including feedback on constellation versus single-platform approaches for meeting mission goals.  NASA and USGS would also be interested in considering alternate approaches to achieving the stated mission goals, potentially including a different concept of operations than described above.  Such alternate approaches may address any part (or all parts) of the conceptual mission elements as described above but must still result in a mission concept that meets the stated mission goals and requirements. This could potentially include approaches that bundle multiple elements together such as space segment hardware/software development and mission operations services, or combine space segment development and launch services, or similar.  Respondents to part C should identify their organization and provide a brief statement of background. 

1.  Compare the advantages/disadvantages and risks of a constellation approach for Landsat Next versus the traditional “single platform” approach.  Is one approach preferable to the other in terms of design feasibility, technical performance, risk, or cost?

2.  Describe and discuss the technical feasibility of alternative approaches to Landsat Next mission architecture and previous experience with providing similar solutions to the US Government or commercial customers. 

3.  Describe the strategy to ensure a low risk mission solution commensurate with the stated Landsat Next Class B status.

4.  Discuss any evolving trends in space technology, including instrumentation, launch vehicles, or small satellite platforms, that could be relevant to the Landsat Next architecture. 

Instructions for Respondents

Responses are limited to no more than 12 pages and 15 MB, and must be submitted via email to the Point of Contact listed below no later than 5 PM Eastern Time 30 days after initial posting on beta.SAM.gov. The subject line of the submission should be "RFI for Landsat Next 2020" and attachments should be in PDF format.  The information is requested for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3, entitled "Solicitation for Information for Planning Purposes."

Only material suitable for internal Government distribution shall be submitted. Any restricted information should be marked accordingly. The U.S. Government will protect all restricted information received from respondents, and distribution of any material will be based on a strict need-to-know basis. However, note that the submissions may be subject to review by experts outside of the civil service, including NASA and USGS contractors, each of whom is bound to protect restricted data from unauthorized use or disclosure per their respective contracts.

No classified material should be provided. Submittals identified as containing such material shall be destroyed and not considered further. Any export-controlled information shall be clearly marked.

NASA shall not be restricted in, nor incur liability for, disclosure, use, and reproduction of any information provided which is or becomes publicly available other than by breach of the parameters above; or which is known to NASA at the time of disclosure; or which becomes known to NASA from an independent source without breach of any agreement to the contrary; or which has no restricted markings.

This RFI is open to all types of organizations, including U.S. business, industry, universities, nonprofit organizations, federal centers, federally funded research and development centers, other U. S. Government agencies, and international organizations.

It is emphasized that this RFI is for planning and information purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. If the U.S. Government decides to proceed with a new procurement or announcement, NASA will synopsize its intent on beta.SAM.gov.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in beta.SAM.gov and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service. It is the interested party's responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

All questions about the RFI shall be directed by email to the address listed below.

All responses shall be sent via electronic mail to:   gsfc-[email protected].