Sept. 21, 2012
Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov
Kim Henry
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
kimberly.m.henry@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 12-333
NASA SELECTS SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected 26 proposals from academia and
industry for advanced development activities for the nation's next
heavy lift rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). Proposals selected
under this NASA Research Announcement (NRA) seek innovative and
affordable solutions to evolve the launch vehicle from its initial
configuration to its full lift capacity capable of sending humans
farther into deep space than ever before.
NASA sought proposals in a variety of areas, including concept
development, trades and analyses, propulsion, structures, materials,
manufacturing, avionics and software.
"Engaging with academia and industry gives us the opportunity to take
advantage of the ingenuity and expertise beyond NASA," said William
Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration and
Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
"It will help us optimize affordability while integrating mature
technical upgrades into future vehicles."
NASA is partnering with the U.S. Air Force on this research
announcement in support of common national rocket propulsion goals.
Individual awards will vary with a total government investment of as
much as $48 million. Initial fiscal year 2012 awards are worth as
much as $8 million for industry and $2.5 million for academia. The
selections will be made in advance of negotiations for potential
awards. Awards depend on successful negotiation and stability of
appropriated funds.
The proposals from academia selected for contract and grant
negotiations are:
-- "High Electric Density Device for Aerospace Applications," Auburn
University, Ala.
-- "Challenges Towards Improved Friction Stir Welds Using On-line
Sensing of Weld Quality," Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
La.
-- "A New Modeling Approach for Rotating Cavitation Instabilities in
Rocket Engine Turbopumps," Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Mass.
-- "Algorithmic Enhancements for High-Resolution Hybrid RANS-LES Using
Loci-CHEM," Mississippi State University, Miss.
-- "Next Generation Simulation Infrastructure on Large Scale Multicore
Architecture," Mississippi State University, Miss.
-- "Characterization of Aluminum/Alumina/Carbon Interactions under
Simulated Rocket Motor Conditions," Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, Pa.
-- "Development of Subcritical Atomization Models in the Loci
Framework for Liquid Rocket Injectors," University of Florida,
Gainesville, Fla.
-- "Determination of Heat Transfer Coefficients for Two-Phase Flows of
Cryogenic Propellants During Line Chilldown and Fluid Transport,"
University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
-- "Validation of Subsonic Film Cooling Numerical Simulations Using
Detailed Measurements and Novel Diagnostics," University of Maryland,
College Park, Md.
-- "Validation of Supersonic Film Cooling Numerical Simulations Using
Detailed Measurements and Novel Diagnostics," University of Maryland,
College Park, Md.
-- "Advanced LES and Laser Diagnostics to Model Transient
Combustion-Dynamical Processes in Rocket Engines: Prediction of Flame
Stabilization and Combustion-Instabilities," University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, Mich.
-- "Acoustic Emission-Based Health Monitoring of Space Launch System
Structures," University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Industry proposals selected for contract negotiations are:
-- "Development of a Fluid-Structure Interaction Methodology for
Predicting Engine Loads," ATA Engineering, Inc., San Diego
-- "Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Development Affordable
Composite Structures," ATK Space Systems, Inc., Clearfield, Utah
-- "Ball Reliable Advanced Integrated Network," Ball Aerospace &
Technologies Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
-- "Affordable Structural Weight Reduction for SLS Block 1A," Collier
Research and Development Corp., Newport News, Va.
-- "DESLA Systems Engineering and Risk Reduction for AUSEP,"
Exquadrum, Inc., Adelanto, Calif.
-- "Space Launch System Program AUSEP LOX Flow Control Valve," MOOG,
Inc. Space and Defense Group, Aurora, N.Y.
-- "Affordable Upper Stage Engine Advanced Development," Northrop
Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif.
-- "Hybrid Precision Casting for Regeneratively-Cooled Thrust Chamber
Components," Orbital Technologies Corp., Madison, Wis.
-- "NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Development, Affordable
Upper Stage Engine Program (AUSE) Study," Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne,
Inc., Jupiter, Fla.
-- "Advanced Ordnance Systems Demonstration," Reynolds Systems, Inc.,
Middletown, Calif.
-- "Cryo-Tracker Mass Gauging System," Sierra Lobo, Inc., Freemont,
Ohio
-- "Efficient High-Fidelity Design and Analysis Tool for Unsteady Flow
Physics in Space Propulsion Geometries," Streamline Numerics, Inc.
Gainesville, Fla.
-- "Robust Distributed Sensor Interface Modules (DSIM) for SLS," The
Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif.
-- "Integrated Vehicle Fluids (IVF)," United Launch Alliance,
Centennial, Colo.
Designed to be flexible for launching payloads and spacecraft,
including NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle that will take
humans beyond low Earth orbit, SLS will enable the agency to achieve
its deep space exploration goals.
"While we are moving out on the initial 70-metric-ton configuration of
the vehicle, we will continue to examine concepts, designs and
options that will advance the rocket to a 130-metric-ton vehicle,
which is essential for deep space exploration," said Todd May, SLS
program manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala. "Competitive opportunities like this research announcement
ensure we deliver a safe, affordable, sustainable launch system."
The proposal selections are the first step in the NRA procurement
process. The period of performance for these awards will be one year
with as many as two one-year options. The second step, formal
contract awards, will follow further negotiations between NASA and
selected organizations.
All proposals will be valid for 12 months to allow for a later award
if the opportunity becomes available, unless the offeror withdraws
the proposal prior to award. Successful offerors to this NRA will not
be guaranteed an award for any future advanced development
acquisition.
The first flight test of NASA's SLS, which will feature a
configuration for a 77 ton (70-metric-ton) lift capacity, is
scheduled for 2017 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
For information about NASA's Space Launch System, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/sls
-end-
To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
No comments:
Post a Comment