[meteorite-list] NASA Calls for American Industry Ideas on ARM Spacecraft Development

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-calls-for-american-industry-ideas-on-arm-spacecraft-development

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NASA Calls for American Industry Ideas on ARM Spacecraft Development
October 22, 2015

NASA, through its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, 
has issued a call to American industry for innovative ideas on how the 
agency could obtain a core advanced solar electric propulsion-based spacecraft 
to support the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM).

Part of NASA's overall Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), this mission will 
use a number of important technologies to prepare for an early human exploration 
mission in deep space -- specifically, the area around the moon known 
as cislunar space. The robotic mission also will provide the first large-scale 
asteroid samples on which to conduct research and analysis for better 
understanding of the composition and nature of these primordial planetary 
bodies, leading to future use of in-situ resources from asteroids. The 
mission both uses and expands NASA’s ability to detect, characterize and 
mitigate the threat these space rocks pose to our home planet. The highest 
priority of ARM is to affordably demonstrate and prove new capabilities 
needed for future human missions to Mars.

"We're eager to hear from American companies on their ideas for a spacecraft 
design that could accommodate our advanced solar electric propulsion requirements 
and robotic technologies," said NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot. 
"We're also interested in what sorts of innovative commercial, international 
and academic partnerships opportunities might be practical and help reduce 
overall mission costs while still demonstrating the technologies we need 
for our journey to Mars."

NASA's ARRM is being formulated to perform a number of technology demonstrations 
needed for the agency's journey to Mars, including the use of a 20-fold 
improvement in state-of-the-art deep space solar electric propulsion capability 
to move and maneuver multi-ton objects. The objective of the robotic segment 
of ARM is to acquire a multi-ton boulder from a large asteroid and redirect 
it to a crew-accessible orbit around our moon, setting the stage for future 
integrated crewed and robotic vehicle operations in deep space.

NASA's ARRM spacecraft will need to be able to demonstrate support of 
high power solar electric propulsion, with initial solar array power of 
approximately 50 kilowatts. The robotics capture system planned aboard 
the pioneering vehicle will be capable of acquiring a 20 ton (or larger) 
boulder of up to about 19 feet (six meters) in width from an asteroid's 
surface and then returning it to an astronaut-accessible orbit near our 
moon. The spacecraft is being formulated to fit atop a variety of launch 
vehicles -- NASA's Space Launch System or a commercially provided rocket. 
The spacecraft will need to be ready for launch by the end of 2020.

While at a large asteroid, the spacecraft will demonstrate a "slow-push" 
planetary defense asteroid deflection technique during the mission. This 
uses the spacecraft and boulder's combined gravitational pull to attempt 
to change the course of an asteroid.

ARM brings together the best of NASA's science, technology and human exploration 
efforts to accomplish several important objectives that are critical elements 
during our journey to Mars.

Redirecting and "parking" a large asteroid boulder within reach of human 
and robotic explorers also will provide American commercial enterprises 
their first opportunities to investigate the viability of mining asteroids 
for precious metals and other resources.

NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission and the robotic component of the overall 
mission will be the topic of an online Adobe Connect community update 
on Friday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. During the update, NASA 
leaders will share recent developments for the Asteroid Redirect Mission, 
including the recent spacecraft design study solicitation and the selection 
of the mission's Formulation Assessment and Support Team members. The 
Adobe Connect meeting is open to the public. Access to the online session 
will be available a few minutes before the start of the update at:

https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/arrm

More information about NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission and the agency's 
Asteroid Initiative is available online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/asteroidinitiative

-end-

David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz at nasa.gov