Advance Preliminary

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

2 January 2043

"Bellevistat" Space Settlement Contract

INTRODUCTION

The Foundation Society seeks proposals to design and build the first space settlement to
establish large-scale industrial operations in cis-lunar space.
Discussions among legacy space contractors and NewSpace companies, government
agencies (primarily from the U.S. and Luxembourg), U.S. military personnel, and space advocacy
organizations led to formation in 2028 of the Space Enterprise Applications Consortium (SEAC),
which pooled corporate resources to develop space infrastructure. The companies turned to the
Foundation Society--then an 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 produced new launch vehicles, space tugs, orbital depots, transfer vehicles,
lunar landers and rovers, and mining bases on the Moon. Launch costs from Earth dropped to
$500,000 per person and $800 per pound of cargo. Early products justifying cis-lunar economic
development were lunar propellants to refuel existing satellites, and satellite servicing and repair.
Anticipating that eventually large quantities of cargo will be shipped around cis-lunar space
and eventually beyond, the Foundation Society established a standard for space cargo containers
that all SEAC members agreed will 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 (corners of the cross-section are
rounded with a 1-foot radius). CASSSCs allow maximum weight of 35,000 pounds (15, 876 kg).
The Foundation Society invested in a new habitat--essentially an orbital industrial park--for
refining of lunar and asteroid material, and on-orbit manufacturing and assembly; declared it the
first permanent human settlement in space; and named it Alexandriat, acknowledging Alexander the
Great’s expanding his empire into previously unknown territories. The Society’s engineers created
a modular design for a small community that would grow with expanding business opportunities.
The Society encouraged the Alexandriat crew to tinker and experiment with materials and processes
in zero g and vacuum. The crew represented the largest pool of unscheduled hours ever
experienced in space, and their creativity quickly produced results.
The most profitable space products are 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.
Their most stunning success was a form of lunar silicon resembling the structure of carbon
nanotubes. Dubbed “buckystructures”, it 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. Colors range from milky white to quartzlike transparency; properties of different
forms include thermal insulating qualities, electrical conductivity, or light refraction. One variant is
a bright white fabric that prevents penetration by space debris up to two inches in diameter.
Alexandriat, however, was not purpose-built for everything now happening there. The
Foundation Society intends to preserve Alexandriat as a center for satellite repair, upgrade, and
manufacture; and its role as a research facility. Large-scale materials refining, heavy industry, and
mass production will move to a second space settlement specifically established for those purposes.

For planning purposes, the Foundation Society has selected “Bellevistat” as the name of
the new settlement. Loosely translated as “beautiful view”, the name refers both to the spectacular
views of Earth enjoyed by residents of space, and the coincidence that an oddly high percentage of
Foundation Society members have lived in the city of Bellevue, Washington, USA.

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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 U.S. and Canadian 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 19 April.
A U.S. Mail postmark of Saturday 15 April or earlier, or international air mail postmark of Wednesday 12
April or earlier, will be accepted as meeting the 19 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, table of contents, section dividers, and Appendices A through C do not count against
the 40-page limit. Any proposal paragraphs may refer to the overall settlement drawing(s) required in the Executive
Summary. 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 Safety Systems
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 (limited to 4 pages)
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 data stick.
Proposals may suggest alternate names for this settlement, within the Foundation Society’s established
naming convention that requires the name to begin with the letter “B” (second settlement in an “at” location) and
end with the suffix “at” (settlement is in orbit “around Terra”).
If a proposal has more than 40 pages (excluding cover, registration page, table of contents, section dividers,
and Appendices A, B and 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 where specified by the Statement of Work (SOW).
Note source of every drawing, image, graph or matrix, directly below the item; e.g., name of artist(s) or CAD
operator(s) in your company, book, Internet site, article, floor plan by [artist name] using Roomsketcher (for
example), or work from a previous proposal. Unattributed or illegible images will not be judged.

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STATEMENT OF WORK

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

operations/maintenance planning for the Bellevistat space settlement in Earth orbit.
Executive Summary minimum requirement: provide a full-page dimensioned drawing(s) depicting
overall exterior view(s) of the settlement, clearly showing major visible features (e.g., solar panels,
antennas, radiators), showing rotating and non-rotating sections, pressurized and non-pressurized
volumes, and indicating functions inside each volume (e.g., research, port facilities, warehousing,
residential areas, utilities). Other proposal sections are expected to refer to this drawing(s).

2. Structural Design - At Initial Operational Capability (IOC), Bellevistat must provide a safe
and pleasant living and working environment for a population of 7,500 full-time residents, plus an
additional transient population, not to exceed 350 at any time, of business and official visitors, and
crews of ships in port for cargo loading and unloading, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul
(MRO). The design must enable residents to have natural views of Earth and Luna.
2.1 Exterior design drawings must identify all volumes and their uses, and show dimensions of
major structural features. Identify construction materials used for major structural components.
Residents may choose to live in any artificial gravity level between 0.15 and 0.9 g. Air pressure
must be the same on both sides of any rotating interface. Show capability to isolate at minimum
any five separate habitable volumes in case of a depressurization or other emergency.
Minimum requirement: overall exterior view 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, residential areas, and agriculture).
2.2 Specify uses of interior “down surfaces”, with areas allocated and drawings labeled and
dimensioned to show residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses. Show orientation of
“down surfaces” with respect to overall settlement structure, and vertical clearance in each area.
Minimum requirement: overall map of interior land areas, showing usage and sizes of those areas.
2.3 Describe settlement construction processes; show the sequence in which major components
will be assembled. Describe construction of interior structures, making use of minimally refined
lunar materials where possible. Specify when artificial gravity will be applied. CASSSCs delivered
during construction may be converted to interior structures, or otherwise repurposed.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) showing at least six steps of settlement assembly.
2.4 Volume for industry--excluding agriculture and MRO--will be roughly equivalent to double
the volume for the residential community. Roughly half the industrial volume will be in zero-g, half
in varying levels of artificial gravity; half will be vacuum and half will be pressurized with capability
for varying environments, approximately evenly allocated between g and zero g.
Minimum requirement: describe how various industry environments will be provided.
2.5 As the space economy grows, Bellevistat will grow as an industrial center. Show how the
settlement can be expanded to 25,000 residents and 400% of IOC manufacturing capability.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of interface(s) where additional volume can be built.

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

building and operating the Bellevistat space settlement.
3.1 Bellevistat will operate in orbit around the Earth-Luna L4 libration point. Identify sources of
materials and equipment that will be used in construction and operations, and means for
transporting those materials and assets to the construction location(s). Use of lunar materials is
encouraged, and transportation costs are reduced by shipping in CASSSCs.
Minimum requirement: table identifying types, amounts, and sources of construction materials.
3.2 Bellevistat 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 sea level, and quantity),
• food acquisition (identify what is produced locally, and what is imported from where),
• electrical power generation (specify kilowatts distributed to habitable and farm areas),
• water management (including fire fighting, fresh water distribution, and sewer routing),
• household and industrial solid waste management (specify recycling and/or disposal),
• internal and external communication systems (specify devices and central equipment),
• internal transportation systems (show routes and vehicles, with dimensions), and

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• day/night cycle provisions (specify schedule and mechanisms/operations for providing it).
Define initial quantities of air water, food, and other consumables as the number of CASSSC-loads
required for each commodity. It is preferred that air, water, other commodities, and standard
infrastructure components be supplied by subcontractors.
Minimum requirement: chart(s) or table(s) specifying CASSSC-loads required of commodities.
3.3 Show designs of primary machines, jigs, and equipment employed for constructing the
settlement, especially for assembling exterior hull and interior buildings / structures using standard
components. Jigs must keep components aligned and precisely in proper position until they are
joined, enable access for tools to complete joints, and enable access for subsequent inspection.
Show how construction machinery, jigs, and tools are shipped to the construction site.
Minimum requirement: drawing(s) of construction jigs, and how they are assembled on-site.
3.4 At IOC, provide MRO capability for one visiting spaceship at any time.
Minimum requirement: show location of MRO dock.
3.5 As Bellevistat grows over time, community infrastructure will need to grow. Describe how
community services will be expanded as the population and industrial activities grow.
Minimum requirement: describe expansion of water management system(s).

4. Human Factors and Safety - Quality of life is important to Foundation Society members,
who plan to maintain traditional comforts without the sacrifices normally associated with a frontier
environment. Provide access to natural sunlight and views of Earth and Luna.
4.1 Bellevistat will provide facilities for services that residents could expect in a comfortable
modern community environment (e.g., medical, parks and recreation, access to fine food and
entertainment), variety and quantity of consumables and other supplies, and public areas designed
with open space and long lines of sight. Show locations and relative sizes of buildings and facilities
Minimum requirement: map(s) and/or illustrations depicting overall community design, including
locations of amenities and services, with a distance scale.
4.2 Provide designs of typical condominium and townhouse residences, clearly showing room
sizes; home designs will be no smaller than 800 sq. ft. and no larger than 1600 sq. ft. Identify
source(s) and/or manufacture of furniture items and appliances. Describe design considerations for
living in different artificial gravity levels. Anticipated demographics of the initial population are:
Married adults 40% (average age 38, median age 34)
Single Men 32% (average age 33, median age 34)
Single Women 25% (average age 36, median age 34)
Children (under 18) 3% (average age 10, median age 12)
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 Describe evacuation and relocation plans for residents of volume(s) isolated in an emergency.
Specify spacesuit features, types, quantities, and stowage locations(s) required to enable work and
recreation outside of pressurized volumes; and safety systems enabling human inspection and
repair of exterior surfaces of rotating volumes. Provide protection from radiation and severe solar
flares. Define how residents and passengers are informed of emergency situations.
Minimum requirement: describe accommodations for evacuees from a compromised volume.
4.4 Residents and visitors will want to engage in sports and other activities not possible in smaller
habitations. Provide facilities for recreational activities appropriate for various g levels available in
Bellevistat, between 0 g and 0.9 g. Show where these facilities are located.
Minimum requirement: descriptions and/or drawings of recreation and sports unique to Bellevistat.
4.5 Describe how Bellevistat community amenities will change as population increases after IOC.
Minimum requirement: list new amenities available with each 2000-person increase in population.

5. Automation Design and Services - For each subparagraph, specify numbers, dimensions,
and types of computer systems, robots, and other computing and information processing devices,
multi-function personal electronic tools, servers, network devices, and/or drones required to operate
the settlement, run its community and businesses, and provide convenience, entertainment, and
safety for residents and visitors. Describe types and capacities of data storage media, data collection,
data distribution, data security, and user access to computer networks. Specify capabilities and
monitoring systems for robots, drones, and settlement automated systems. Identify automated
processes that require monitoring; provide control rooms and show consoles / displays for
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automated systems that require human oversight; list types of alerts to get human attention for
problem resolution, and specify reason(s) for each type of of alert.
5.1 Describe uses of automation for construction of settlement structures. Show designs of
robots and other automation systems created uniquely for building this project. Consider
automation for transportation and delivery of materials and equipment, constructing interior
buildings, installing utilities and infrastructure, and finishing interior spaces and surfaces. Specify
applications appropriate for fixed-base, articulating, mobile, and/or other robot types. Show how
jigs hold robots in position to perform construction tasks in zero g.
Minimum requirement: 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 industry, spaceship MRO, agriculture,
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. Robots required for emergency external
repairs must survive and accomplish tasks during solar flare activity.
Minimum requirement: chart or table listing anticipated automation requirements for operation of
the settlement, and identifying particular systems and robots to meet each automation need.
5.3 Describe features of 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. 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: define features of robots and computing systems that people will encounter
in Bellevistat, and diagram(s) of network(s) and bandwidth requirements to enable connectivity.
5.4 Cargo brought to and shipping from Bellevistat--including lunar ores to be refined at the
settlement--will be contained in CASSSCs. Show how automation will be used to move CASSSCs
between port facilities where they are unloaded and loaded inside the settlement, and how they will
be moved into and out of warehousing in zero g and vacuum.
Minimum requirement: drawings of automation systems to transport CASSSCs.
5.5 At IOC, manufacturing facilities at Bellevistat will include capability to build space tugs for cis-
lunar orbital transportation, and lunar landing craft. Eventually large ships purpose-built for
interplanetary travel will be built at the settlement. Describe automation to enable production of
components for large structures, and assembly of those components into ships.
Minimum requirement: list automation systems to be used in spaceship manufacturing.

6. Schedule and Cost - The proposal will include a schedule for completion and occupation of
Bellevistat, and costs for design through construction phases of the schedule.
6.1 Describe contractor tasks from the time of contract award (15 May 2043) until the customer
assumes responsibility for operations of the completed settlement. Show schedule dates 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: Gantt chart showing durations and completion dates of major tasks, with
increments no larger than monthly.
6.2 Specify costs associated with Bellevistat design through construction in U.S. dollars, without
consideration for economic inflation. Do not include costs of consumables shipped and delivered
in CASSSCs; do specify number of CASSSC-loads of each commodity required to be shipped to
the construction site. Do not include costs of Subcontractor-supplied goods and services; do
specify what is required from Subcontractors (including for capabilities not listed) so that the
Foundation Society can separately contract with them.
Minimum requirement: spreadsheet(s) listing separate costs associated with different phases of
construction, and Subcontractor contracts required to be arranged by the Customer

7. Business Development - Bellevistat will host various commercial and industrial ventures,
which may change with time. The basic design must be sufficiently flexible to add compatible

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business types with little configuration change. The original configuration must, however,
accommodate three major business pursuits:
• Production of goods manufactured from extraterrestrial materials
- lunar ores will arrive in CASSSCs
- ore arrives in batches but is delivered for continuous processes, so must be stored
between delivery and use
- materials require processing varying from minimal to refining for extraction of metals
and rare earth elements
- many processes require operations in both zero g and at least 0.2 g
- manufacturing will encompass a wide variety of products; the Foundation Society will
welcome companies to lease space for manufacturing facilities
- products will be created at Bellevistat for export, provisioning visiting ships, and
internal use/consumption; provide delivery paths from manufacturing area(s) to
customer acceptance for each market
• Manufacturing of spacecraft for service only in space
- early spacecraft will carry passengers and/or a single CASSSC
- satellites too large to launch or impractical to assemble from Earth-launched
components will be built at Bellevistat
- allow for future expansion of manufacturing areas, to eventually include assembly of
large interplanetary ships
- future interplanetary ships are expected to ship up to 90 CASSSCs, arranged 3-wide
by 15 long by 2 high
• MRO of ships and other space infrastructure elements
- a fleet of 10 space tugs will operate from Bellevistat to assist disabled vehicles, of
which up to 5 tugs may be docked at any one time
- repair docks are required to accommodate different types and sizes of ships
- allow for future port expansion, both for increasing numbers and sizes of visiting
ships requiring services
- provide safety procedures in the event a visiting ship develops a hazardous situation

8. Appendices - although required to be included in the proposal, will NOT count against the
40-page proposal limit.
A. Operational Scenario - Prepare an RFP, not to exceed four pages, describing requirements
for standard docking accommodations for various sizes of ships (loaded with any number of
CASSSCs, up to 90), enabling safe transfer of crew and passengers, and providing efficient transfer
of CASSSCs between spacecraft. The design configuration selected will serve as a specification for
standard docking between all future spacecraft and orbital ports.
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 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.

© Aerospace Education Competitions 2022