Jane Edwards
NASA has formed public-private partnerships with 19 companies for 22 research projects under two solicitations that seek to advance the development of new space platforms intended for human and robotic exploration missions.
“These awards enable us to continue to foster partnerships with the commercial space sector that not only leverage capabilities to meet NASA’s strategic goals but also focus on U.S. industry markets that are at a tipping point for commercialization and infusion,” Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for NASA’s space technology mission directorate, said in an announcement released Friday.
The space agency will award two-year, fixed-price contracts to the following companies that were chosen through the tipping point solicitation program:
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Blue Canyon Technologies
- Freedom Photonics
- Geo Optics
- Made in Space
- Northrop Grumman
- Orbital ATK
- Space Systems Loral
- Tethers Unlimited
Under this program, companies will develop new systems for robotic assembly of spacecraft and structures, small spacecraft attitude determination and control and actuators and sensors, remote sensing instruments and propulsion platforms for small spacecraft.
For the emerging space system solicitation, NASA will sign Non-Reimbursable Space Act Agreements with the following companies that will work on 13 technology projects:
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Boeing
- Busek
- Dynetics
- Exquadrum
- Garvey Spacecraft
- Generation Orbit Launch Services
- Intelligent Fiber Optic Systems
- Orbital ATK
- T.E.A.M
- UP Aerospace
- Virgin Galactic
These projects focus on suborbital reusable and nanosatellite launch systems, thermal protection platforms, green propellant thrusters and liquid rocket engines.
