February 22, 2017 RELEASE 17-020 NASA Establishes New Public-Private Partnerships to Advance U.S. Commercial Space Capabilities NASA is partnering with eight U.S. companies to advance small spacecraft and launch vehicle technologies that are on the verge of maturation and are likely to benefit both NASA and the commercial space market. These partnerships are the result of a solicitation released in August 2016 by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), titled Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships to Advance Tipping Point Technologies. They mark the second round of public-private opportunities that enable industry to develop promising commercial space technologies that also may benefit future NASA missions. "The first awards showed us how much the commercial space sector is ready to collaborate with us on developing capabilities that align with their business plans and meet NASA's strategic goals," said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for STMD. "By contributing their own funds to their projects, these U.S. companies are joining in innovative co-investments to enable NASA's next generation of science and human exploration missions." A technology is considered at a 'tipping point' if an investment in a demonstration of its capabilities will result in a significant advancement of the technology's maturation, a higher likelihood of infusion into a commercial space application, and a significant improvement in the partner's ability to successfully bring the technology to market. Small Launch Vehicle Technology Development Small Launch Vehicle Technology enables the use of small spacecraft for technology development, science missions and to support deep space human exploration. The agency is partnering with the following companies to accelerate the development of commercial capabilities to enable frequent launches of small spacecraft to low-Earth orbit: Masten Space Systems, Inc., Mojave, California
Ventions, LLC, San Francisco
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., Irvine, California
HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California
UP Aerospace, Inc., Littleton, Colorado
Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Virginia Carbon Nanotube Infused Launch Vehicle Structures
Small Spacecraft Capability Demonstration Missions NASA is partnering with the following companies to advance small spacecraft capabilities through flight demonstrations with aggressive schedule and cost targets: Trans Astronautica Corporation, Lake View Terrace, California
ExoTerra Resource, Littleton, Colorado
These fixed-priced contracts include milestone payments tied to technical progress and require a minimum 25 percent industry contribution, though all awards are contingent on the availability of appropriated funding. The contracts are worth a combined total of approximately $17 million, and each have an approximate two-year performance period culminating in a small spacecraft orbital demonstration mission or the maturation of small launch vehicle technologies. These awards are funded by STMD, which is responsible for developing the cross-cutting, pioneering, new technologies and capabilities needed by the agency to achieve its current and future missions. For more information about the NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit: -end- | |
Press Contacts Gina Anderson | |
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Wednesday, February 22, 2017
[NASA HQ News] NASA Establishes New Public-Private Partnerships to Advance U.S. Commercial Space Capabilities
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