Asian Region

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

1 January 2054

"Atlas" Space Settlement Contract

INTRODUCTION

The Foundation Society requests that contractors propose design, development, and
operations planning of the first large space settlement in solar orbit, which will move Earth-crossing
asteroids to orbits where they can provide raw materials for refineries and factories in space.
Organized cis-lunar economic development started in 2023 with formation of the Space
Enterprise Applications Consortium (SEAC), formed by legacy space contractors and NewSpace
companies to pool corporate resources for development of space infrastructure. The companies
turned to the Foundation Society--then a venture capital investor organization funding
entrepreneurial space tourism launch vehicles--to lead SEAC projects. NASA partners turned over
International Space Station (ISS) ownership to SEAC, which renamed it Spaceport Freedom and
added Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spaceports Liberty and Independence to serve as transfer ports for
exports, imports, and passengers between Earth and space. SEAC partners adapted existing
designs for ISS components and from unbuilt proposals to quickly produce new launch vehicles,
space tugs, orbital depots, transfer vehicles, lunar landers and rovers, and bases at mining sites on
the Moon. Launch costs from Earth dropped to $500,000 per person and $800 per pound of
cargo. The original products that justified cis-lunar economic development were lunar propellants
to refuel existing satellites, and satellite servicing and repair.
Anticipating that large quantities of cargo would be shipped around cis-lunar space, the
Foundation Society established a standard for space cargo containers that all SEAC members
agreed to be compatible with their launch and space vehicles. Cargo Accommodation in Standard
Space Shipping Container (CASSSC) units are 30 feet (9.144 meters) long with nearly-square 15-
foot (4.572 meters) cross-sections, allowing up to 35,000 pounds (15,876 kg) of contents.
The Foundation Society invested in a new habitat for refining of ores and on-orbit manufac-
turing; declared it the first permanent human settlement in space; and named it Alexandriat. The
crew were encouraged to tinker and experiment with materials and processes in zero g and vacuum.
They represented the largest pool of unscheduled hours ever experienced in space, and their
creativity quickly produced results. Early profitable products were nanobots, microscopic robots
that perform tasks at the molecular level--primarily modifying molecules to form an airtight seal on
interior surfaces, fusing coatings on surfaces, and separating elements mixed in metallic asteroids.
Although envisioned for decades, they were impractical until an Alexandriat lab grew them.
The most stunning success was a form of lunar silicon resembling the structure of carbon
nanotubes. Dubbed “buckystructures”, the material is extraordinarily strong in tension, tolerates
the space environment, and can be formed into flexible strands and cables of unlimited length, or
vast nets and sheets of fabric. Permutations are still being explored. Colors range from milky
white to quartzlike transparency; properties of different forms and with various introduced
impurities include thermal insulating qualities, electrical conductivity, sound transmission, adhesion,
or light refraction. One variant is a bright white fabric that prevents penetration by space debris up
to two inches in diameter (but offers no thermal insulation). .
After proving the economic viability of orbital refining and manufacturing at Alexandriat, the
Foundation Society and SEAC partners aggressively pursued utilization of extraterrestrial resources
to produce products both for use in space and export to Earth. They now operate the large Alaskol
settlement on Earth’s moon, and the Bellevistat settlement at L4. Lunar materials are shipped by
mass driver from the surface, and personnel go to and from the Moon via the space elevator at the
L1 port, Arial. The next step for the Foundation Society and SEAC is to build a settlement that will
move asteroids near Bellevistat in L4, where their resources can be profitably harvested.

For planning purposes, the Foundation Society selected “Atlas” as this settlement’s name,
for the Titan from Greek mythology who is usually pictured carrying the world on his shoulders.
1 January 2054 “Atlas” RFP page 2

FORMAT AND SCHEDULE

For entries from Regions other than the US and Canada with Semi-Finalist Competitions or selection
processes, follow submittal instructions from the corresponding Regional Coordinators.

For all other entries, THREE single-sided copies and/or originals plus one pdf version of each proposal
must be received by the Foundation Society no later than Wednesday 24 April.
A U.S. Mail postmark of Saturday 20 April or earlier, or international air mail postmark of Wednesday 17
April or earlier, will be accepted as meeting the 24 April proposal submittal deadline.

Only entries from registered teams are eligible to advance in the Competition. Submit proposals in the
English language, single-sided on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper (or nearest international equivalent), with a 40 page limit,
print 10-point or larger with standard spacing, and all margins one inch or larger--print and image area 6 1/2 by 9
inches (16.5 by 22.8 cm) excluding header, footer, and page numbers. For font size reference, this page is Times
New Roman 10-point text with standard spacing and required margins (measure--printers vary!). Cover page,
“Proposing Team Data” page, and Appendices A through C are required but do not count against the 40-page limit;
table of contents and section dividers do not count against the 40-page limit. It is advised that clarity, neatness,
thoroughness, and organization of the design description will aid the Foundation Society in recognizing the design's
merits. Proposal content must be arranged in seven sections and three Appendices, numbered as follows:
1.0 Executive Summary [brief description of overall design features and merits]
2.0 Structural Design
2.1 External Configuration
2.2 Internal Arrangement
2.3 Construction Process
2.4 and 2.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
3.0 Operations and Infrastructure
3.1 Location and Materials Sources
3.2 Community Infrastructure
3.3 Construction Machinery
3.4 and 3.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
4.0 Human Factors and Safety
4.1 Community Design
4.2 Residential Design
4.3 Safe Access
4.4 and 4.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
5.0 Automation Design and Services [computer and robot systems]
5.1 Automation of Construction Processes
5.2 Facility Automation
5.3 Habitability and Community Automation
5.4 and 5.5 corresponding to SOW paragraphs
6.0 Schedule and Cost
6.1 Design and Construction Schedule
6.2 Costs
7.0 Business Development (may reference other sections where RFP “7.” requirements are met)
Appendix A: Operational Scenario
Appendix B: Bibliography / References: reference ANY art or text not original for this proposal
Appendix C: Compliance Matrix

Due to incompatibilities of computer and software systems, proposals may not be submitted via electronic media
(with ONE pdf exception, defined in separate submittal instructions), e.g., e-mail, website, or CD. Teams may,
however, post artwork and design images for their proposals on websites, within the following guidelines:
(a) Only drawings, pictorial representations, and artwork (including videos) are to be posted electronically; text
(except captions) and charts/tables must be included in the proposal submitted by mail.
(b) Drawings associated with different Statement of Work (SOW) sub-sections (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3) must be
posted in separate website locations (e.g., different links from a single site).
(c) The first reference to a website for images in a proposal sub-section (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3) will be included
as half of a proposal page--including address for accessing the site, AND a sample image from the site. Re-
emphasizing, if three sub-sections reference a website, the proposal section will include three half-page images.
(d) Website images must be accessible by Macs or PCs and not require special software installation.
1 January 2054 “Atlas” RFP page 3

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Basic Requirements - Describe the design, development, construction, and operations

planning for the first space settlement in solar orbit, for the purpose of moving small (no larger than
10 miles / 16.1 km diameter) Earth-crossing asteroids to orbits in cis-lunar space.

2. Structural Design - Atlas must provide a safe and pleasant living and working environment
for a population of 11,000 full-time residents, and up to 300 visitors, who will stay on average six
weeks. The design must enable residents to have natural views of Earth .
2.1 Overall exterior design drawing(s) must identify uses of all large enclosed volumes, and show
dimensions of major structural components and design features. Provide artificial gravity of 0.5 g in
living areas. Show structural interface(s) between rotating and non-rotating sections. Provide
capability to isolate multiple habitable volumes in case of a depressurization or other emergency.
Show design when attached to a representative asteroid, and when not attached to an asteroid.
Minimum requirement: overall exterior views of settlement, with major visible features (e.g., solar
panels, antennas), showing rotating and non-rotating sections, pressurized and non-pressurized
sections, and indicating functions inside each volume (e.g., port, warehousing, and residential areas).
2.2 Specify uses and dimensions of interior “down surfaces”, with areas allocated and drawings
labeled to show residential, commercial, community services, and other uses. Show orientation of
“down surfaces” with respect to overall settlement design, and vertical clearance in each area.
Minimum requirement: overall map or layout of interior land areas, showing usage of those areas.
2.3 Describe processes required to construct the settlement, by showing the sequence in which
major components will be assembled. Specify when artificial gravity will be applied.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing at least six intermediate steps of settlement assembly,
and method of initiating and maintaining rotation for artificial gravity.
2.4 Show interfaces and capture / retention system(s) for attaching the settlement to asteroids
between one mile and 10 miles in diameter. Throughout its lifetime, Atlas’ target asteroids may be
of various types, including nearly-solid metallic bodies and loosely conglomerated rubble piles.
Minimum requirement: drawings of attachment systems, including direction of acceleration and
access for harvesting materials en route to final destination.
2.5 To enable early commercial use of asteroid resources acquired by Atlas, some ore will be
transferred to CASSSCs and shipped to Bellevistat. Show how ore-filled CASSSCs are received
from the asteroid, and transferred to the spaceport dock for shipment.
Minimum requirement: route for ore-filled CASSSCs to Atlas’ port.

3. Operations and Infrastructure - Describe facilities and infrastructure necessary for

building and operating the Atlas space settlement.
3.1 Specify an orbital location where Atlas will be constructed. Identify sources of materials and
equipment that will be used in construction and operations, using minimally refined extraterrestrial
materials as much as possible. Transportation costs are reduced by shipping in CASSSCs.
Minimum requirement: table identifying types, amounts, and sources of construction materials.
3.2 Atlas design will show elements of basic infrastructure required for the activities of the
settlement's residents, including (but not limited to):
• atmosphere & climate (identify air composition at 0.75 Earth atmosphere, and quantity),
• food production (identify locations of agricultural areas, and growing conditions),
• electrical power generation (specify kilowatts distributed to habitable areas),
• water management (specify required water quantity and storage facilities),
• household and industrial solid waste management (specify recycling and/or disposal),
• internal and external communication systems (specify devices and central equipment), and
• internal transportation systems (show routes and vehicles, with dimensions).
Define initial quantities of air water, food, and other consumables as the number of CASSSC-loads
required for each commodity. Air and water will be supplied by a different contractor.
Minimum requirement: chart(s) or table(s) specifying quantities required of air, food, power, water,
waste handling, communications devices, and internal transport vehicles.
3.3 Show conceptual designs of primary machines, jigs, and equipment employed for
constructing the settlement, especially for assembling exterior hull and interior buildings / structures
using standard components. Describe materials, components, and/or subassemblies delivered to the
1 January 2054 “Atlas” RFP page 4

machines, and how the machines convert delivered supplies into completed settlement structures.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of primary construction machinery, showing how it shapes
and/or manipulates raw materials or structural components into finished form.
3.4 A propulsion company will customize Atlas propulsion system(s) to parameters defined in the
proposal. Specify amounts of thrust required for continuous acceleration of 0.1 g, for the
settlement alone and when it is moving various sizes of asteroids. Define interface surface(s) and
configurations where thrust is to be applied, and the direction(s) of thrust at each interface.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing propulsion interface(s) and thrust direction(s).
3.5 Show vehicles for moving ore-filled CASSSCs from the asteroid to the spaceport dock, and
how CASSSCs are loaded onto visiting ships.
Minimum requirement: drawing of CASSSC(s) on a transport vehicle in the settlement.

4. Human Factors and Safety - Atlas will offer attributes available to residents of Earth's small
cities in developed countries. Provide natural sunlight and views of Earth for residents.
4.1 Atlas will provide services that residents expect in comfortable modern communities (e.g.,
housing, entertainment, education, medical, parks and recreation), variety and quantity of consumer
goods, and public areas designed with open spaces and long lines of sight. List major types of
consumables, anticipated quantities, and sources (e.g., local production or import). Depict or
specify means of distributing consumables (including food) to Atlas residents.
Minimum requirement: map(s) and illustration(s) depicting community design and locations of
amenities, with a distance scale and dimensions of major features.
4.2 Include designs of typical residences, clearly showing room sizes; home designs will be no
smaller than 800 sq. ft. and no larger than 1600 sq. ft. Include a mix of attached, separate, one-
story, and two-story homes; show on a map of the residential areas where each type of building is
located. Anticipated demographics of the original population are:
Married adults 50% (average age 37, median age 34)
Single Men 28% (average age 32, median age 35)
Single Women 20% (average age 35, median age 31)
Children (under 18) 2% (average age 6, median age 5)
Minimum requirement: external drawing and interior floor plan of at least six home designs, the
area (preferably in square feet) for each residence design, and the number required of each design.
4.3 Show dimensioned designs of systems, devices, and vehicles intended for use by humans
outside of artificial gravity volumes. Show spacesuit features required to enable work outside of
pressurized volumes, including on the captured asteroid; safety systems enabling human inspection
and repair of exterior surfaces of Atlas rotating volumes; and airlock designs between habitable
areas and unpressurized volumes.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing examples of handrails, tethers, cages, and/or other
systems enabling safe human access to any location on or in low-g areas and on the asteroid.
4.4 Show location(s) and configuration(s) of research laboratory(ies) and the materials
processing equipment available to Atlas’ research engineers and scientists. enable studies of new
material properties, processing techniques, and production prototypes.
Minimum requirement: describe equipment available to researchers to enable investigating a wide
variety of materials manipulation conditions and processes.
4.5 Atlas will usually be in remote locations, far from other human habitations. Ships will seldom
visit, and their crews will usually stay at the settlement for weeks or months. Show recreational
and/or social activities intended to help residents feel at home, and visiting crews to feel welcome.
Minimum requirement: list of recreational and social activities available in a typical week on Atlas.

5. Automation Design and Services - For each subparagraph, specify numbers and types of
computing and information processing devices, multi-function personal electronic tools, servers,
network devices, and robots to satisfy requirements. Describe types and capacities of data storage
media, data security, and user access to computer networks. Show robot designs, clearly indicating
their dimensions and illustrating how they perform their tasks.
5.1 Describe uses of automation for construction. Show appropriate automation systems to assist
with transportation and delivery of materials and equipment, assembly of the settlement, installing
utilities and infrastructure, and interior finishing. Describe how humans monitor automated
construction processes and progress, and where/how human interaction is required during
1 January 2054 “Atlas” RFP page 5

construction. Show how jigs hold robots in position to perform construction tasks in zero g.
Minimum requirement: dimensioned drawings showing automated construction and assembly
devices--both for exterior and interior applications (e.g., homes)--and illustrating how they operate.
5.2 Specify automation systems for settlement maintenance, repair, and safety functions; show
how automation works together with humans to perform these tasks. Describe when and how
human intervention in automated functions is required. Describe means for authorized personnel to
access critical data and command computing and robot systems; include descriptions of security
measures to assure that only authorized personnel have access, and only for authorized purposes.
Minimum requirement: illustrations of human(s) working with automated assistance.
5.3 Show automation devices to enhance livability in the community, productivity in work
environments, and convenience in residences. Emphasize use of automation to perform maintenance
and routine tasks, and reduce requirements for manual labor. Describe access to community
computing assets and robot resources from homes and workplaces. Robots encountered in daily
community life will be no taller than four feet (122 cm), and not anthropomorphic. Provide for
privacy of personal data and control of systems in private spaces. Describe devices for personal
delivery of communications services, entertainment, information, computing, and robot resources.
Minimum requirement: dimensioned drawings of robots and computing systems that people will
encounter in Atlas, and diagram(s) of network(s) to enable connectivity.
5.4 Provide automation for the process of capturing an asteroid and securing it for acceleration to
its destination in cis-lunar space.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of automation systems fro deploying and/or activating asteroid
capture and retention system(s).
5.5 Show how automation can load asteroid ore into CASSSCs for transportation to cis-lunar
space. Ore-extraction and -loading operations will take place in vacuum and near-zero g.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) depicting automated ore-loading operations.

6. Schedule and Cost - The proposal will include a schedule for completion and occupation of
Atlas, and costs for design through construction phases of the schedule.
6.1 The schedule must describe contractor tasks from the time of contract award (7 May 2054)
until the customer assumes responsibility for operations of the completed settlement. Show
schedule date(s) when Foundation Society members may begin moving into their new homes, and
when the entire original population will be established in the community.
Minimum requirement: durations and completion dates of major design, construction, and
occupation tasks, depicted in a Gantt chart with monthly or smaller increments.
6.2 Specify costs billed per year of Atlas design through construction in U.S. dollars, without
consideration for economic inflation. Estimate numbers of employees working during each phase
of design and construction in the justification for contract costs to design and build the settlement.
Minimum requirement: spreadsheet(s) listing separate costs associated with different phases of
construction, and clearly showing total costs that will be billed to the Foundation Society.

7. Business Development - Atlas’ commercial and industrial ventures will focus on three
business pursuits associated with moving Earth-crossing asteroids from solar orbit to an orbit in
cis-lunar space, and asteroid resource harvesting. Elements necessary to accomplish these purposes
include the following (this proposal section may reference designs in other paragraphs):
• Asteroid capture and retention system(s)
- Define interface(s) for attaching to an asteroid and applying force to change its orbit
- Define configuration(s) and deployment system(s) for asteroid capture and retention
system(s)
- Implement measures to prevent loose asteroid surface material from shedding off the
asteroid when it is accelerated at 0.05 g
- Provide system(s)( to mitigate asteroid dust migration into and inside the settlement
- Specify number and location(s) of propulsion interface(s)
• Asteroid resource harvesting and shipping
- Provide asteroid material harvesting capability during transit
- Provide system(s) for loading asteroid ore in CASSSCs
- Provide transportation route(s) and vehicle(s) for moving ore-filled CASSSCs from
the asteroid to the spaceport dock
1 January 2054 “Atlas” RFP page 6

- Show configuration of the spaceport dock; only one ship at a time will visit Atlas
- Show how crews enter and exit ships in the spaceport dock
• Research laboratories
- Provide transportation of asteroid materials to research facility(ies)
- Provide research ore-processing capability in various g levels between 0 g and 0.5 g
- Provide research ore-processing capability in various atmosphere pressures,
compositions, and temperatures, from cold vacuum to small volumes with high
pressures and temperatures
- A separate contractor will provide a variety of equipment (e.g., kilns, chemical
catalysts, extruding and rolling, introduction of impurities) to process asteroid
materials in a search for new properties and applications; it is estimated 5 MW of
power will be required for these operations
- A separate contractor will provide a variety of processes to test asteroid materials
properties (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, optical and thermal properties,
durability) and possible new products or applications; it is estimated one MW of
power will be required for these operations

8. Appendices - although required to be included in the proposal, will NOT count against the
40-page proposal limit.
A. Operational Scenario - describe in detail the processes involved with the Atlas settlement
capturing, attaching, accelerating, and starting resources harvesting of an asteroid, from the point of
view of a news reporter writing a story for a newspaper.
B. Bibliography / References - Cite references used in proposal preparation. Any text or
image that is not an original creation specifically for this proposal (e.g., artwork from a website,
book, journal, or prior proposal) must be specifically referenced to source materials included here.
C. Compliance Matrix - Include a table that at minimum lists each requirement in the SOW,
and specifies the page(s) in the proposal where that requirement is addressed.

EVALUATION STANDARDS

Evaluation of each design presentation considers four general categories of factors:

A. Thoroughness - Design meets depth and diversity of requirements in the entire SOW.
Graphs, tables, drawings, and compliance matrices aid evaluation of this factor.
B. Credibility - Design addresses requirements, safety, physical laws, and cost/schedule in a
believable manner. Errors, impossibilities, omissions, and illogic are penalized.
C. Balance - Proposal places equal emphasis on four technical areas: structural design,
operations, livability, and automation. Proposal is organized in a logical, easy-to-follow manner.
D. Innovation - Design demonstrates original thinking to address SOW requirements.
Technologies are applied and combined in unique and creative ways.

ADDENDA

Proposals may suggest alternate names for this community, within the Foundation Society's
established naming convention that requires the name to begin with the letter "A" (first settlement at
an "as" location) and end with the suffix "as" (settlement is in orbit “around Sol”).
If a proposal is submitted that has more than the allowed 40 pages (excluding cover page,
registration page, table of contents, section dividers, and Appendices A through C) only the first 40
pages will be reviewed and judged.
Drawings and/or maps included in the proposal must show dimensions consistently in
English (feet/miles) or metric (meters/kilometers) notation, except when specified by the SOW.