Oct 14 2015

From The Space Library

Release C15-043 NASA Awards Contract for Aerospace Systems Research, Technology Development

Under its Basic and Applied Aerospace technology (BAART) multiple-awards contract, NASA has awarded contracts to 11 companies to support research and technology development for aerospace systems at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The multiple-award, indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract, which begins Nov. 1, allows NASA to spend as much as $400 million during five years cumulatively on all 11 contracts.

By technical tracks of work, the awardees are:

Advanced Materials and Structural Systems, Aerodynamics, Aerothermodynamics, and Acoustics

• Alliant Techsystems Operations, LLC of Elkton, Maryland
• Analytical Services & Materials, Inc. of Hampton, Virginia
• Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation of Manassas, Virginia
• Lockheed Martin Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Palmdale, California
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Aerospace Systems of Redondo Beach, California
• The Boeing Company of Hazelwood, Missouri

Systems Analysis and Concepts

• ViGYAN, Inc. of Hampton, Virginia

Entry, Descent, and Landing

• Alliant Techsystems Operations, LLC
• Analytical Services & Materials, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
• The Boeing Company

Measurement Systems and Autonomous Technologies

• Alliant Techsystems Operations, LLC
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Aerospace Systems
• The Boeing Company
• ViGYAN, Inc.

Flight-Critical and Intelligent Flight Systems

• Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
• Engility Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia
• Honeywell International, Inc. of Golden Valley, Minnesota
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Aerospace Systems
• Rockwell Collins, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Saab Sensis Corporation of East Syracuse, New York
• The Boeing Company

The scope of work under the BAART contract includes support for basic and applied research, technology concepts, analysis, development and integration; systems concepts, analysis development and integration; and technology demonstrations.

The research scope ranges in maturity from fundamental tool and technology development through integrated technology demonstrations, potentially to include flight demonstrations and vehicle concepts and performance conditions within the speed regimes of subsonic through hypersonic atmospheric flight.

Release M15-149 Media Accreditation Open for Orbital ATK Mission to Resupply Space Station

NASA has opened media accreditation for the fourth commercial resupply services launch of an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft filled with cargo for the International Space Station. The launch is currently targeted for Thursday, Dec. 3 during a 30-minute window that opens at approximately 6 p.m. EST.

The Cygnus will lift off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida. The mission will be the first flight of the enhanced variant of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft, capable of delivering more than 7,700 pounds of essential crew supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to the station.

Science payloads include a new life science facility that will support studies on cell cultures, bacteria, and other micro-organisms; a microsatellite deployer and the first microsatellite to be deployed from the space station; experiments that will study the behavior of gases and liquids and clarify the thermo-physical properties of molten steel; and evaluations of flame-resistant textiles.

Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at CCAFS and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. International media without U.S. citizenship must apply for accreditation by Nov. 2 for access to both Kennedy and CCAFS or by Nov. 11 for access only at Kennedy. The deadline for U.S. media to apply for credentials to both Kennedy and CCAFS is Nov. 16, and Nov. 23 for access only to Kennedy.

Release 15-209 NASA Awards Venture Class Launch Services Contracts for CubeSat Satellites

NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) contracts to provide small satellites (SmallSats) -- also called CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites -- access to low-Earth orbit.

The three companies selected to provide these new commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are:

• Firefly Space Systems Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, $5.5 million
• Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Los Angeles, $6.9 million
• Virgin Galactic LLC of Long Beach, California, $4.7 million

At present, launch opportunities for small satellites and science missions mostly are limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on NASA and other launches. The services acquired through these new contract awards will constitute the smallest class of launch services used by NASA.

“LSP is attempting to foster commercial launch services dedicated to transporting smaller payloads into orbit as an alternative to the rideshare approach and to promote the continued development of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry,” said Jim Norman, director of Launch Services at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “VCLS is intended to help open the door for future dedicated opportunities to launch CubeSats and other small satellites and science missions.”

Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities.

LSP supports the agency’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by providing launch opportunities for more than 50 CubeSats that are awaiting launch during the next three years. The VCLS contracts will demonstrate a dedicated launch capability for smaller payloads that NASA anticipates it will require on a recurring basis for future science SmallSat and CubeSat missions.

Small satellites already are used to provide imagery collection for monitoring, analysis and disaster response. In the future, CubeSat capabilities could include ship and aircraft tracking, improved weather prediction, and the provision of broader Internet coverage.

The Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington has partnered with LSP to fund the VCLS contracts. These VCLS launches of small satellites are able to tolerate a higher level of risk than larger missions and will demonstrate, and help mitigate risks associated with, the use of small launch vehicles providing dedicated access to space for future small spacecraft and missions.

“Emerging small launch vehicles have great potential to expand the use of small satellites as integral components of NASA’s Earth science orbital portfolio,” said Michael Freilich, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division. “Today’s CubeSat technology fosters hands-on engineering and flight research training; with the addition of reliable, affordable, and dedicated access to space on small launchers, constellations of SmallSats and CubeSats could revolutionize our science-based spaceborne Earth-observing systems and capabilities. We’re eager to work with the VCLS providers as they develop new launch capabilities for the Earth science community.”