Tag Archives: NextSTEP

An Aerojet Rocketdyne study has found that using liquid hydrogen for propulsion systems supporting the lunar lander could pose risks because currently available cryogenic fluid management capabilities may not be mature enough, SpaceNews reported Monday.

Some industry executives have shared their thoughts on NASA's mission to put U.S. astronauts on the lunar surface by 2024 through the Artemis program, ViaSatellite reported.

NASA has awarded contracts worth $45.5M combined to study and develop human lander prototypes in the next six months in support of its Artemis lunar exploration initiative. The space agency said Friday the companies will produce prototypes of a human landing platform with descent, ascent, transfer and refueling elements and shoulder at least 20 percent of the total development cost under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships Appendix E contracts.

Lockheed Martin has completed the final version of a 13-foot-wide habitat prototype designed to support NASA’s deep space missions, Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday. The company developed the habitat at Kennedy Space Center in Florida based on the refurbished Donatello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and as part of NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships contract.
 

Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s space systems business, has been named one of the nominees for the Via Satellite magazine’s 2017 Satellite Executive of the Year award. Via Satellite said the nomination seeks to acknowledge Ambrose’s ability to advance innovation in the company’s operations, bring new business opportunities …

A joint venture of Thales and Leonardo has received three contracts to produce technologies that can help NASA accomplish human space exploration missions and address commercialization objectives of the agency’s industry partners. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital ATK will collaborate with Thales Alenia Space under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 initiative as part of …

NASA has awarded three companies $10.2 million in total grants to develop ground-based prototypes of a multimaterial fabrication laboratory. Interlog, Techshot and Tethers Unlimited will aim to deliver the prototypes within an 18-month period as part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships  initiative, NASA said Friday. The agency plans to select …

NASA has awarded five companies $2.4 million in combined funds to study power and propulsion technologies that can support the development of a solar electric propulsion platform for deep space missions. The studies will help NASA identify requirements and reduce risk for a 50 kilowatt-class SEP system that will support human missions into deep …

NASA has asked industry to submit concept studies on solar electric propulsion vehicle platforms designed to support future deep space exploration missions. A draft broad agency announcement posted Friday on FedBizOpps says the agency seeks study proposals to support the development of concepts and approaches related to the power and propulsion …

NASA has posted a request for information on power and propulsion concepts that can help the agency meet deep space exploration objectives. The space agency said Tuesday seeks information on conceptual designs; current industry capabilities and development methods; and potential commercial applications of deep space power and solar electric propulsion technologies. “Through the RFI, …

Lockheed Martin has begun to develop a prototype of a deep space habitat for NASA designed to provide navigation support and ensure safety of astronauts during long-duration missions. Lockheed is one of the six companies that received Phase II contracts in August 2016 to further develop the design concept in …

Joe Cassady, executive director for space programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne, has said the use of solar electric propulsion (SEP) systems for in-space transportation can help the U.S. government build a sustainable deep space architecture. Cassady told the House of Representatives’ subcommittee on space that SEP platforms can transfer cargo, habitats and payloads …

NASA is looking for industry partners that can help the agency develop concepts for the development of an in-space laboratory to fabricate multiple materials for exploration missions. The agency said Thursday the FabLab solicitation, issued as part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration broad agency announcement, will consist of three phases with the …

Matt Simon, habitation lead for NASA’s Evolvable Mars Campaign, has said the agency  wants a similar structure for future deep space modules that will serve as transit and surface habitats for Mars and moon explorations, Ars Technica reported Wednesday. Eric Berger writes Simon told the publication deep space habitats from the Next …

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has discussed two initiatives the space agency has launched in an effort to establish the foundation for NASA’s Journey to Mars project and other deep space missions. Bolden wrote in a blog post published Tuesday that NASA established partnerships with private companies to advance research projects …