Oct 28 2014

From The Space Library

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Current revision

RELEASE 14-297 NASA Seeks Proposals to Develop Capabilities for Deep Space Exploration, Journey to Mars

NASA is soliciting proposals for concept studies or technology development projects that will be necessary to enable human pioneers to go to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and Mars.

Through a Broad Area Announcement (BAA) NASA released today, the agency seeks to use public-private partnerships to share funding to develop advanced propulsion, habitation and small satellite capabilities that will enable the pioneering of space. Public-private partnerships of this type help NASA stimulate the U.S. space industry while working to expand the frontiers of knowledge, capabilities and opportunities in space.

NASA intends to engage partners to help develop and build a set of sustainable, evolvable, multi-use space capabilities that will enable human pioneers to go to deep space destinations. Developing capabilities in three key areas – advanced propulsion, habitation, and small satellites deployed from the Space Launch System – is critical to enabling the next step for human spaceflight. This work will use the proving ground of space around the moon to develop technologies and advance knowledge to expand human exploration into the solar system.

State-of-the-art solar electric propulsion technology currently employed by NASA generates less than five kilowatts. The Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) BAA selected proposals for concepts developing systems in the 40-kilowatt range. NASA now is seeking to advance the technology to 50- to 300-kilowatt systems to meet the needs of a variety of mission concepts. Orion is the first component of human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and will be capable of sustaining a crew of four for 21 days in deep space and returning them safely to Earth. NASA seeks proposals for concept studies, technology investigation, and concepts of operations to enable extended space habitation as the next foundational cornerstone of a future deep space transit capability.

The studies will help define the architecture and subsystems of a modular habitation capability, which will be used to augment planned missions around the moon as well as to provide initial operations and testing in the proving ground for future systems in support of human exploration in deep space. Studies can address transportation, habitation, operations or environmental capabilities of a habitation system.

This BAA also provides for the selection of proposals for the development and delivery of small satellite missions that address strategic knowledge gaps for future human exploration. Selected small satellites, known as cubesats, will fly as secondary payload missions on Exploration Mission-1. The mission provides a rare opportunity to boost these cubesats to deep space and enable science, technology demonstration, exploration or commercial applications in that environment.

Through awards from this BAA, NASA’s goal is to accomplish both near-term missions and sustained investments in technologies and capabilities to address the challenges of deep space exploration. Because capabilities and technologies developed through these awards will have significant potential commercial applications, NASA expects partners to contribute significant resources.

Eligible applicants from U.S. companies, non-profit organizations, and international institutions must submit proposals electronically by 4:30 p.m. EST Dec. 12. BAA awards are subject to the availability of funding. NASA may not make any awards until the agency receives fiscal year 2015 appropriations, or may choose to award only in specific areas and reserve the remaining awards pending final appropriations for the fiscal year.

RELEASE 14-301 NASA Wallops Preparations on Track for Tonight’s Orbital Sciences Launch to International Space Station

Ahead of the third U.S. commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station by Orbital Sciences Corp., NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia continues to enable successful launches from the Eastern Shore. Orbital’s Antares rocket carrying 5,000 pounds of NASA cargo aboard the company’s Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT this evening from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops.

A Monday launch attempt was scrubbed because a boat was inside the range safety zone southwest of the launch pad.

“Wallops is home to NASA’s only owned and operated launch range, providing safety, area clearance, tracking and telemetry, and logistical support to range users like Orbital Sciences,” said Bill Wrobel, Wallops director. “Public safety is our top priority for launch operations and the teams at Wallops have done a tremendous job getting ready to support these launches. But, we also need the public’s help to ensure the safe and successful beginning of these resupply missions to the International Space Station.”

On Monday evening, a sailboat about 26 feet long entered the hazard zone early in the launch count. The hazard area for the launch of Antares is about 1,400 square miles off the coast of Wallops Island along the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Radar aircraft detected the boat and hailed it several times, but there was no response. A spotter plane made multiple passes around the boat at low altitudes using commonly understood signals such as wing waving to establish contact. However, the operator did not respond.

The boat was traveling very slowly at a speed of about four knots and remained in the hazard area at the time of Orbital’s scheduled launch. The presence of the boat exceeded a mandatory safety requirement for launch, scrubbing the launch to Tuesday.

Well-ahead of launch operations, two public notifications, notices to mariners (NOTMARs) and the notification for the establishment of an Army Corps of Engineers Danger Zone, are released. Boats under way in the ocean also are requested to monitor marine band radio channel 16 for safety messages and communication with marine authorities.

Nine hours before the scheduled lift-off time, Wallops' area clearance personnel are in active communication on the marine band radio with boaters traveling in and near the established hazard area. This early in the countdown, the area clearance officer is actively working to keep the area cleared by contacting boaters about the upcoming launch operation. More complex surveillance of the area begins four hours prior to liftoff with the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Virginia Marine Police and Contract Surveillance Boats, about seven to eight boats actively patrolling the area. Three hours prior to launch, a radar aircraft, spotting aircraft, and helicopter are used to surveil the area.

Among the science cargo Cygnus will transport to the space station are a study to enable the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere, a multitude of student investigations covering topics such as the effects of microgravity on plant growth and the rates of milk spoilage in space and international research including a study to determine how blood flows from the brain to the heart in the absence of gravity. A launch attempt Tuesday evening will result in Cygnus arriving to the space station Sunday, Nov. 2.

RELEASE 14-302 NASA Statement Regarding Oct. 28 Orbital Sciences Corp. Launch Mishap

The following statement is from William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, regarding the mishap that occurred at Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.

“While NASA is disappointed that Orbital Sciences' third contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station was not successful today, we will continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we fully understand today's mishap. The crew of the International Space Station is in no danger of running out of food or other critical supplies.

“Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first two missions to the station earlier this year, and we know they can replicate that success. Launching rockets is an incredibly difficult undertaking, and we learn from each success and each setback. Today's launch attempt will not deter us from our work to expand our already successful capability to launch cargo from American shores to the International Space Station.”