WASHINGTON - NASA is partnering with eight U.S. companies to advance small spacecraft and launch vehicle technologies that are on the verge of maturation and are likely to benefit both NASA and the commercial space market.

These partnerships are the result of a solicitation released in August 2016 by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), titled Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships to Advance Tipping Point Technologies. They mark the second round of public-private opportunities that enable industry to develop promising commercial space technologies that also may benefit future NASA missions.

A technology is considered at a ‘tipping point’ if an investment in a demonstration of its capabilities will result in a significant advancement of the technology's maturation, a higher likelihood of infusion into a commercial space application, and a significant improvement in the partner’s ability to successfully bring the technology to market.

The awards were divided into two categories: small launch vehicle technology and small spacecraft capability demonstrations.

Small Launch Vehicle Technology enables the use of small spacecraft for technology development, science missions and to support deep space human exploration. Partner companies include Mastane Space Systems, Ventions LLC, Tyvak Nano-Satellite, HRL Laboratories, UP Aerospace and Orbital Sciences Corp.

Small spacecraft companies include Trans Astronautica Corp and ExoTerra Resource.

These fixed-priced contracts include milestone payments tied to technical progress and require a minimum 25 percent industry contribution, though all awards are contingent on the availability of appropriated funding. The contracts are worth a combined total of approximately $17 million, and each have an approximate two-year performance period culminating in a small spacecraft orbital demonstration mission or the maturation of small launch vehicle technologies.

Smalls satellites are becoming increasingly popular. They allow companies, universities, and governments to test new techniques and carry out missions at a much lower cost than larger satellites. NASA will continue to fund these missions going forward.

This program also highlights the growing importance of commercial companies within the space industry. As the capabilities of commercial companies grows, public private partnerships like this one will become more popular.

Source: NASA
Associated URL: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-establishes-new-public-private-partnerships-to-advance-us-commercial-space
Author: B. Ostrove, Analyst