[meteorite-list] NASA Selects Companies For Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle Studies

[Ron Baalke]

Nov. 08, 2010

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1979/5241 
michael.j.braukus at nasa.gov   
j.d.harrington at nasa.gov   


RELEASE: 10-292

NASA SELECTS COMPANIES FOR HEAVY-LIFT LAUNCH VEHICLE STUDIES

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected 13 companies for negotiations leading 
to potential contract awards to conduct systems analysis and trade 
studies for evaluating heavy-lift launch vehicle system concepts, 
propulsion technologies, and affordability. 

The selected companies are: 

Aerojet General Corp., Rancho Cordova, Calif. 
Analytical Mechanics Associates, Huntsville, Ala. 
Andrews Space, Tukwila, Wash. 
Alliant Techsystems, Huntsville, Ala. 
The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala. 
Lockheed Martin Corp., Huntsville, Ala. 
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Huntsville, Ala. 
Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Ariz. 
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, Calif. 
Science Applications International Corp., Huntsville, Ala. 
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, Calif. 
United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colo. 
United Space Alliance, Huntsville, Ala. 

The awards total approximately $7.5 million with a maximum individual 
contract award of $625,000. Each company will provide a final report 
to help lay the groundwork for the transportation system that could 
launch humans to multiple destinations, including asteroids, Lagrange 
points, the moon and Mars. 

"These trade studies will provide a look at innovative launch vehicle 
concepts, propulsion technologies, and processes that should make 
human exploration missions more affordable," said Doug Cooke, 
associate administrator of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission 
Directorate at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. "If we are to 
travel beyond low-Earth orbit, industry's collaboration is essential 
to reduce the cost associated with our future exploration goals and 
approaches and make the heavy-lift vehicle affordable to build and 
fly." 

The studies will include heritage systems from shuttle and Ares, as 
well as alternative architectures and identify propulsion technology 
gaps including main propulsion elements, propellant tanks and rocket 
health management systems. The reports will include assessments of 
various heavy-lift launch vehicle and in-space vehicle that use 
different propulsion combinations. The companies will examine how 
these combinations can be employed to meet multiple mission 
objectives. 

NASA will use the recommendations to evaluate heavy-lift launch 
vehicle concepts and propulsion technologies for affordability that 
will be required to enable robust and sustainable future exploration 
missions. 

For more information about NASA, exploration and other programs, 
visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov   
	
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