NASA Selects Companies For Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle Studies

The selected companies are:

Aerojet General Corp., Rancho Cordova, Calif.
Analytical Mechanics Associates, Huntsville, Ala.
Andrews Space, Tukwila, Wash.
Alliant Techsystems, Huntsville, Ala.
The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Ariz.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, Calif.
Science Applications International Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, Calif.
United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colo.
United Space Alliance, Huntsville, Ala.

The awards total approximately $7.5 million with a maximum individual
contract award of $625,000. Each company will provide a final report
to help lay the groundwork for the transportation system that could
launch humans to multiple destinations, including asteroids, Lagrange
points, the moon and Mars.

"These trade studies will provide a look at innovative launch vehicle
concepts, propulsion technologies, and processes that should make
human exploration missions more affordable," said Doug Cooke,
associate administrator of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. "If we are to
travel beyond low-Earth orbit, industry's collaboration is essential
to reduce the cost associated with our future exploration goals and
approaches and make the heavy-lift vehicle affordable to build and fly."

The studies will include heritage systems from shuttle and Ares, as
well as alternative architectures and identify propulsion technology
gaps including main propulsion elements, propellant tanks and rocket
health management systems. The reports will include assessments of
various heavy-lift launch vehicle and in-space vehicle that use
different propulsion combinations. The companies will examine how
these combinations can be employed to meet multiple mission objectives.

NASA will use the recommendations to evaluate heavy-lift launch
vehicle concepts and propulsion technologies for affordability that
will be required to enable robust and sustainable future exploration missions.

For more information about NASA, exploration and other programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA

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