Definitive Contract to Space Exploration Technologies Corp by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center for Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences

Expires: Unlock →

IGF::OT::IGF NASA BAA/NRA AWARD. PROPOSAL TITLE "NEXT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EXPLORATION PARTNERSHIP - NEXTSTEP-2. THE NEXTSTEP-2 STUDY CONDUCTED BY SNC WILL EVALUATE MISSION ARCHITECTURE, SYSTEM INTERFACES, AND SUBSYSTEM COMPONENT DESIGN TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE THREE OPERATIONAL PHASES OUTLINED BY NASA. NASA'S HEOMD/AES DIVISION SELECTED THE SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION PROPOSAL IN RESPONSE TO THE NEXT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EXPLORATION PARTNERSHIPS -2 (NEXTSTEP-2) BAA SOLICITATION IN THE AREA OF HABITATION SYSTEMS. THIS CONTRACT EFFORT WILL FOCUS ON REFINING ARCHITECTURES AND CONCEPTS OF OPERATION AND DEVELOPING A FULL SIZE GROUND BASED DEEP SPACE HABITATION PROTOTYPE UNIT FOR INITIAL HABITATION CAPABILITIES IN CISLUNAR SPACE WITH EXTENSIBILITY FOR IN-SPACE TRANSIT HABITATION. THIS CONTRACT WILL ALSO DEVELOP PLANS AND ESTIMATES FOR FURTHER ENGINEERING AND FLIGHT UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN A NASA-LED STANDARDS AND COMMON INTERFACES WORKING GROUP. KEY COMPONENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE IDENTIFIED DURING THE STUDY PHASE. AS PART OF OPTION 1 SNC WILL DEVELOP A FULL-SCALE PROTOTYPE TO FURTHER MATURE THE DESIGN AND REDUCE RISK. TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSYSTEMS WITH COMMERCIAL SPACE APPLICATIONS WILL BE IDENTIFIED BY SNC FOR USE IN EXPANDING SNC'S COMMERCIAL SPACE GOALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOTAL PROGRAM COSTS FOR EXECUTION THROUGH PHASE 2 WILL BE CONTINUALLY REFINED THROUGHOUT THE STUDY, AND CULMINATE IN A PROPOSAL FOR A FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBLE MATING OPTIONS TO CONNECT AND ACCOMMODATE A VARIETY OF ELEMENTS, INCLUDING DIFFERENT HABITAT ELEMENTS AND A DOCKING DESTINATION FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION'S (NASA) ORION SPACECRAFT.

Expires: Unlock →

IGF::OT::IGF BAA - NEXT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EXPLORATION PARTNERSHIPS (NEXTSTEP) PROPOSAL - HABITATION. NASA HAS INCREASINGLY EMBRACED PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ACHIEVING ITS STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR EXPANDING THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE. THE NEXT STEP FOR HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT MORE EXTENSIVE MISSIONS IN THE PROVING GROUND AROUND AND BEYOND CISLUNAR SPACE. AN IMPORTANT PART OF NASAS STRATEGY IS TO STIMULATE THE COMMERCIAL SPACE INDUSTRY WHILE LEVERAGING THOSE SAME COMMERCIAL CAPABILITIES THROUGH FUTURE CONTRACTS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER MISSION CAPABILITIES. NASAS ACTIVITIES IN ENABLING THE PIONEERING OF SPACE ARE BEING DRIVEN BY A SET OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES: IMPLEMENTABLE IN THE NEAR-TERM WITH THE BUYING POWER OF CURRENT BUDGETS AND IN THE LONGER TERM WITH BUDGETS COMMENSURATE WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH; EXPLORATION ENABLES SCIENCE AND SCIENCE ENABLES EXPLORATION APPLICATION OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL (TRL) TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEAR TERM MISSIONS, WHILE FOCUSING SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS ON TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES OF FUTURE MISSIONS; NEAR-TERM MISSION OPPORTUNITIES WITH A DEFINED CADENCE OF COMPELLING AND INTEGRATED HUMAN AND ROBOTIC MISSIONS PROVIDING FOR AN INCREMENTAL BUILDUP OF CAPABILITIES FOR MORE COMPLEX MISSIONS OVER TIME; OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE AND BUSINESS BASE MULTI-USE, EVOLVABLE SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE, MINIMIZING UNIQUE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS; SUBSTANTIAL INTERNATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL PARTICIPATION, LEVERAGING CURRENT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND OTHER PARTNERSHIPS. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL DEVELOP A SIMPLE, LOW COST EXPLORATION AUGMENTATION MODULE (EAM) THAT IS AFFORDABLE EARLY ON, THAT ALLOWS VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES TO BE TESTED OVER TIME, AND THAT IS CAPABLE OF EVOLVING INTO A LONG-DURATION CREW SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR CISLUNAR AND MARS EXPLORATION.

Expires: Unlock →

EXPLORATION UPPER STAGE ENGINES MSFC WILL PROCURE TEN (10) RL10 FLIGHT ENGINES FROM AEROJET ROCKETDYNE, INC. TO SUPPORT THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM (SLS) EXPLORATION MISSIONS 2 AND 3 (EM-2 AND EM-3). EACH FLIGHT WILL REQUIRE A FOUR (4) ENGINE CLUSTER. ADDITIONALLY, TWO (2) SPARE ENGINES WILL BE PROCURED. CORRESPONDING TO THESE SPECIFIC RL10 ENGINES, NASA MSFC WILL PROCURE VEHICLE AND PROGRAM INTEGRATION SUPPORT, FLIGHT SUPPORT, AND HUMAN RATING COMPLIANCE REVIEW SUPPORT.

Expires: Unlock →

NEXT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EXPLORATION PARTNERSHIP-2 APPENDIX R: LUNAR LOGISTICS & MOBILITY STUDIES. AREAS OF STUDY INCLUDE BUT AREN'T LIMITED TO CONCEPT OF OPS, GROUND SUPPORT EQUIP, LANDER ASSUMPTIONS, PROCUREMENT STRATEGY & LUNAR SURFACE IMPACTS