Autonomous Ion Mass Spectrometer Sentry (AIMSS)

The solicitation seeks a qualified contractor to support the development, flight‑qualification, and on‑orbit demonstration of the Autonomous Ion Mass Spectrometer Sentry (AIMSS), a high‑resolution ion mass spectrometer for low‑Earth‑orbit plasma measurements. The effort encompasses hardware fabrication, firmware/software development, ground testing, integration with the ISS payload interface, and support for on‑orbit operations. Although the description emphasizes internal LANL development, the solicitation contains a formal response deadline, indicating a potential external partnership or subcontracting opportunity. • Provide high‑precision ion‑optics hardware (electrostatic filters, magnetic separation section, detector assembly). • Develop flight‑qualified instrument control software and data‑processing pipelines. • Conduct ground‑test, calibration, and integration activities to meet TRL‑6 flight‑qualification standards. • Support ISS integration, launch preparation, and on‑orbit operations for the scheduled May 12 2026 deployment.