NASA Calls for Commercial Suborbital Flight Services Proposals

May 26, 2011

David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz@nasa.gov

Leslie Williams
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
661-276-3893
leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-170

NASA CALLS FOR COMMERCIAL SUBORBITAL FLIGHT SERVICES PROPOSALS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is seeking proposals for services from commercial
suborbital flight providers and payload integrators to support the
agency's Flight Opportunities Program, which is part of NASA's Office
of the Chief Technologist.

NASA will award contracts to multiple vendors capable of providing
payload integration and flight services on commercial suborbital
reusable launch vehicles. The flights will carry a variety of
payloads to help meet the agency's technology and innovation goals
enabling future missions and benefiting America's commercial
aerospace industries.

"Partnering with U.S. suborbital reusable launch vehicle providers for
integration of technology payloads and launch services is an
effective way to use the innovations of American industry while
meeting the technology development needs of the nation's space
program," said NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun at the agency's
headquarters in Washington.

NASA's Office of Chief Technologist intends to mature crosscutting
technologies to flight readiness status for future space missions. As
part of this strategy, NASA will provide frequent flight
opportunities for payloads on suborbital reusable launch vehicles
capable of flying to various altitudes, including above 62 miles, but
not reaching low-Earth orbit.

Each successful vendor will receive an indefinite-delivery,
indefinite-quantity contract. This request for proposals is a
continuation of efforts aligned with the NASA Authorization Act of
2010, with funding provided by the fiscal year 2011 Continuing
Resolution.

The Flight Opportunities Program is managed at NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center in Edwards, Calif. It combines the Facilitated Access
to the Space environment for Technology and Commercial Reusable
Suborbital Research efforts.

For more information about the request for proposals, visit:

http://go.usa.gov/rlq

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