The goal of the RLV technology program is the continued lowering of the cost of access to space. Offerers must submit proposals in response to this CAN by february 24, 1995. The second CAN is intended to stimulate the definition and design of a technology demonstrator vehicle.
The goal of the RLV technology program is the continued lowering of the cost of access to space. Offerers must submit proposals in response to this CAN by february 24, 1995. The second CAN is intended to stimulate the definition and design of a technology demonstrator vehicle.
The goal of the RLV technology program is the continued lowering of the cost of access to space. Offerers must submit proposals in response to this CAN by february 24, 1995. The second CAN is intended to stimulate the definition and design of a technology demonstrator vehicle.
Dom Amatore Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (Phone: 205/544-6533)
RELEASE: 95-1
REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE NOTICES ISSUED
NASA today issued two Cooperative Agreement Notices
(CANs) requesting proposals for the development of technology demonstrators for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program.
The goal of the RLV technology program is the
continued lowering of the cost of access to space to promote the creation and delivery of new space services and other activities that will improve economic competitiveness. The Program will implement the recently- released National Space Transportation Policy, specifically Section III, paragraph 2(b): "Research shall be focussed on technologies to support a decision, no later than December 1996, to proceed with a sub-scale flight demonstration which would prove the concept of single-stage to orbit."
Sponsored by NASA's Office of Space Access and
Technology (OSAT), the "X-34" CAN is intended to: (1) stimulate the joint industry/Government-funded development of a small reusable, or partially-reusable, booster that has potential application to commercial launch vehicle capabilities and which will provide significantly reduced mission costs for placing small payloads into a low Earth orbit and, (2), demonstrate technologies that have application to future reusable launch vehicle systems. Some of these technologies may be demonstrated as a part of the basic booster design and some through test bed application of the booster for demonstration of alternate technologies. The development schedule should support flight tests beginning in late-1997, orbital launch by mid-1998 and test bed applications later in 1998. Offerers must submit proposals in response to this CAN by Feb. 24, 1995. NASA may fund one or more proposals and industry cost-sharing contributions will be required to match on a cumulative basis, as a minimum, the NASA funds provided directly to the offerer under the resulting Cooperative Agreement. The current expected NASA program funding for the X-34, through FY 1999, is $70 million.
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The second CAN released today is intended to stimulate
the joint industry/government co-funded concept definition and design of a technology demonstrator vehicle, designated the "X-33," followed by the design/demonstration of a competitively selected concept or concepts.
The X-33 must adequately demonstrate the key design
and operational aspects of a reusable space launch system so as to reduce the risk of developing such a commercially- viable launch system.
The performance period for Phase I, the concept
definition/design phase, is 15-months. The results of Phase I will provide the basis for a White House decision on whether or not to proceed with Phase II, which includes design, building and flight demonstration of the X-33. Pending the decision to proceed, Phase II would initiate by the end of FY 1996 and continue through the end of the decade. The results of Phase II would be utilized by the Government and private sector to decide whether or not to proceed with development of an operational next-generation reusable launch system.
Offerers must submit proposals for Phase I/X-33
activities by Feb. 24, 1995. Multiple awards for Phase I are planned during which each participant shall mature its total X-33 business investment strategies and planning, operations planning and vehicle design and analysis with detail sufficient to permit competitive selection of industry partner(s) and their X-33 design concept(s) at the end of the period. Significant cost-sharing by industry is anticipated during Phase I. Although no minimum percentage is specified for Phase I, NASA reserves the right to specify minimum sharing requirements for Phases II and III. Current expected funding by the government during Phase I (in FY 1995) is $18 million. As a guide for the preparation of proposals, the potential level of government funding estimated to be available through FY 1999 for the X-33 is approximately $650 million.
Participation in this program is open to all
categories of organizations, both domestic and foreign. Organizations include large businesses, small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, NASA Centers and Federal, State and local government agencies.
The Office of Space Access and Technology conducts
space research and development through sponsorship of technology programs conducted at NASA Field Centers, in U.S. industry, and in American universities. The OSAT Space Transportation Division supports these activities by sponsoring the development of the next generation RLV technologies. NASA's RLV Technology Program will accelerate the development and application of new space launch
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technologies and operational concepts to contribute to the
continuing commercialization of the national space launch industry.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Copies of both CANs are available for
review in the NASA Headquarters and Marshall Space Flight Center Newsrooms (phones: 202/358-1600 and 205/544-0034, respectively). Further administrative and contractual information may be obtained from the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, at 205/544-0381. Additional technical information may be obtained, also from Marshall, at 205/544-0366. The CANs are available over the internet world wide web at "http://sunwks.msfc.nasa.gov/coop/coophome.html"
NASA press releases and other information are available
automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to domo@hq.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type the words "subscribe press-release" (no quotes). The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. A second automatic message will include additional information on the service. Questions should be directed to (202) 358-4043.