CubeSat
WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA is seeking proposals for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned to launch between 2012 and 2014. These miniature spacecraft, known as CubeSats, could be auxiliary payload on previously planned missions.
CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh less than three pounds.
NASA PR — WASHINGTON — NASA has selected four companies to develop concepts for storing and transferring cryogenic propellants in space. These capabilities are important for the agency’s future deep space human exploration missions. The selected companies, pending successful contract negotiations, are:
— Analytical Mechanics Associates Inc. Hampton, Va.
— Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation, Boulder, Colo.
— The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif.
— Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colo.
(more…)
Melbourne, Fla. – Space Florida and the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) jointly announced today the 10 companies selected to present at the I2 (Igniting Innovation) Capital Acceleration Showcase scheduled for September 7, 2011 in Cape Canaveral. The companies were chosen from among a group of 62 Florida technology firms that applied last month for a chance to present their business case at the I2Showcase.
“These firms convey the strength and diversity Florida’s high-tech community,” said Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello. “The creative solutions these companies are deploying clearly demonstrate the significant potential that exists for Florida’s high-tech growth in the near term. We look forward to helping these businesses reach their goals.”
NASA PR — NASA’s solar-powered Juno spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 9:25 a.m. PDT (12:25 p.m. EDT) Friday to begin a five-year journey to Jupiter.
Juno’s detailed study of the largest planet in our solar system will help reveal Jupiter’s origin and evolution. As the archetype of giant gas planets, Jupiter can help scientists understand the origin of our solar system and learn more about planetary systems around other stars.
NASA will hold a media teleconference next week to announce the proposals selected for study under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts, or NIAC, program. Monday, Aug. 8 2 p.m. EDT The proposals were selected based on the concepts’ potential to transform our future space missions, enable new capabilities or significantly alter current approaches to launching, building, and operating space systems. Each proposal will receive approximately $100,000 for one year to […]
Artist's conception of Boeing's commercial crew module. (Credit: Boeing)
With Boeing’s selection of Atlas V to launch its CST-100 commercial crew vehicle, the picture relating to NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program has become a bit clearer. Without any delay, let’s dive into it.
A Big Win for Big Rocket
For an “OldSpace” rocket company under threat from new competition, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is doing pretty well here. Companies building three of the four human spacecraft that NASA is funding under CCDev 2 have selected the Atlas V as their launch vehicle. These vehicles include Boeing’s CST-100, Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser, and Blue Origin’s orbital vehicle. The other company, SpaceX, has its own Falcon 9 rocket for the spacecraft it is building.
An image combining orbital imagery with 3-D modeling shows flows that appear in spring and summer on a slope inside Mars' Newton crater. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
PASADENA, Calif. — Observations from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.
“NASA’s Mars Exploration Program keeps bringing us closer to determining whether the Red Planet could harbor life in some form,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, “and it reaffirms Mars as an important future destination for human exploration.”
Dark, finger-like features appear and extend down some Martian slopes during late spring through summer, fade in winter, and return during the next spring. Repeated observations have tracked the seasonal changes in these recurring features on several steep slopes in the middle latitudes of Mars’ southern hemisphere.
ULA's Atlas V
On the call today….
John Elbon
four flight tests planned
contract includes non-recurring work, pad upgrades for ingress
used a best-value selection process — considered technical aspects, management and past performance, and cost of offer
proposals evaluated by a team in Houston — data analyzed and fed into a model — process selected Atlas V — because ULA was selected, an additional FTC process was required because Boeing is a part-owner of the process — process was set up to ensure there was no bias in the selection process due to part ownership of ULA
George Sowers — ULA
Artist's conception of Boeing's commercial crew module. (Credit: Boeing)
Boeing Selects Atlas V Rocket for Initial Commercial Crew Launches
Reliable United Launch Alliance rocket to launch in 2015
HOUSTON, Aug. 4, 2011 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it has selected the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket to launch the Boeing Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast.
“This selection marks a major step forward in Boeing’s efforts to provide NASA with a proven launch capability as part of our complete commercial crew transportation service,” said John Elbon, vice president and program manager of Commercial Crew Programs and the source selection official for Boeing.
The Boeing telecon is about a half hour away. Florida Today is quoting unnamed sources as saying that Boeing will select ULA’s Atlas V to launch its CST-100 spacecraft. Other possible candidates are ATK’s Liberty, ULA’s Delta IV and SpaceX’s Falcon 9. ULA is a 50-50 venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. A bit more information from Boeing: Three test flights will be flown with this rocket in 2015. With […]
