NASA Selects Contractors For Exploration Studies

SPACE TRAVEL

Illustration of a crew exploration vehicle orbiting Mars (Artwork Credit: NASA)

Washington DC (SPX) Sep 1, 2004
NASA today awarded the first contracts to conduct preliminary concept studies for human lunar exploration and the development of the crew exploration vehicle. Eleven companies were selected.

NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Associate Administrator retired Navy Rear Adm. Craig E. Steidle, said, "These study contracts reflect NASA's new commitment to find the best outside expertise that will work in partnerships to benefit the nation's goals for space exploration. "We are developing a sustained and affordable human and robotic program that will explore the solar system and beyond. We will accomplish this using the same ingenuity, commitment and unwavering determination that forged the success of the Apollo program."

The contracts, which total approximately $27 million, with a possible option worth an additional $27 million, are a result of the Concept Exploration and Refinement Broad Agency Announcement issued in May 2004.

The contracts will be awarded initiating a six-month base period, with a six-month option that may be exercised at the government's discretion. Options may be exercised based on several factors, including the quality of performance during the base period, fiscal constraints and overall support to the Vision for Space Exploration. "The Vision for Space Exploration gives NASA a new focus for a sustained and affordable human and robotic space exploration program to explore the solar system and beyond.

The contracts are in two categories or concept areas. The first area is preliminary concepts for human lunar exploration. The selected companies for "concept 1" and the value of their contracts are:

Raytheon, Tucson, Ariz. -- Base: $994,157; Option: $998,529
SAIC, Houston -- Base: $996,616; Option: $998,539
SpaceHAB Corp., Webster, Texas -- Base: $995,603; Option: $998,907

The second category consists of preliminary concepts for the crew exploration vehicle and human lunar exploration. The selected companies for "concept 2" and the value of their contracts are:

Andrews Space Inc., Seattle -- Base: $2,999,988; Option: $2,999,941
Draper Labs, Cambridge, Mass. -- Base: $2,988,083; Option: $2,945,357
Lockheed Martin Corp., Denver -- Base: $2,999,742; Option: $2,999,920
Northrop Grumman Corp., El Segundo, Calif. -- Base: $2,958,753; Option: $2,999,473
Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, Va. -- Base: $2,998,952; Option: $2,994,259
Schafer, Chelmsford, Mass. -- Base: $2,999,179; Option: $2,997,804
The Boeing Co., Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Base: $2,998,203; Option: $2,998,346
t-Space, Menlo Park, Calif. -- Base: $2,999,732; Option: $2,939,357

SPACE TRAVEL

Planetary Probe Experts Gather At NASA To Discuss Exploration

Moffett Field (SPX) Aug 26, 2004
With the successes of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and Cassini missions fresh on their minds, leading experts on planetary probe missions will gather at NASA to plan for future missions.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.