Orbital Selected By NASA For $6M Lunar Exploration Study Contract

PLANETARY SCIENCE

Illustration of a lunar ferry

Dulles VA (SPX) Sep 13, 2004
Orbital Sciences last Friday (September 10) announced that it was awarded a one-year contract, worth up to $6 million, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to perform a Concept Exploration and Refinement (CE&R) study for human lunar exploration systems and the development of the crew exploration vehicle.

Orbital was one of several companies awarded similar contracts that are divided into six-month increments, beginning with a firm portion of approximately $3 million over the first six months and a $3 million optional portion over the second six-month period.

Under these contracts from the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA is seeking outside expertise to work in partnership with the space agency. The company said that work on the contract would begin immediately.

"We are delighted to be able to continue our long-standing support of NASA's efforts to develop new human space exploration systems," said Dr. Doug Stanley, Program Manager for Orbital's Advanced Programs Group.

"Ever since the Space Transportation Architecture Studies were commissioned in 1998 and throughout the Space Launch Initiative and the Orbital Space Plane Programs, Orbital has worked in partnership with NASA to develop space system concepts that are innovative, affordable and achievable."

"We are convinced that our team will continue to add significant value to the development of new space exploration concepts with our unique ability to offer creative solutions grounded in disciplined engineering approaches."

MOONDAILY

Footprints On The Moon

Moffett Field CA (SPX) Aug 30, 2004
The Moon preserves unique information about changes in the habitability of the Earth-Moon system. This record has been obscured on the Earth by billions of years of rain, wind, erosion, volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and plate tectonics.

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