Thu, Dec 23, 2010
Solicits Proposals For Technology Flight Demonstrations And
Information About Suborbital Flight Services
NASA is seeking proposals from researchers interested in
testing new technologies during suborbital flights. The agency also
is requesting information from commercial suborbital reusable
launch vehicle providers and commercial payload integrators about
carrying the technology payloads. The selected payloads will fly on
aircraft that provide parabolic flight trajectories and on
suborbital reusable launch vehicles capable of flying to altitudes
above 62 miles. The flights will expose the payloads to reduced
gravity and near-zero gravity environments.
"During these flights, researchers will be able to test their
technologies in a range of microgravity environments and share
their data with NASA -- data NASA can use when planning future
missions," said Bobby Braun, NASA chief technologist at the
agency's headquarters in Washington.
The solicitation is being made by NASA's Flight Opportunities
Program, which is designed to foster development of a commercial
reusable suborbital transportation industry while developing new
technologies and improving microgravity research. When available,
such reusable vehicles will provide lower-cost, more frequent, and
more reliable access to space. Technology flights are expected to
reduce risks associated with emerging technologies and procedures,
and overall space operations in future missions, by demonstrating
applications in a relevant environment.
XCOR Lynx Suborbital Vehicle
The solicitation for suborbital flights is open until Dec. 31,
2014. Applications for the first round of flights are due by Jan.
31, 2011. Responses to the request for information about services
of commercial suborbital reusable launch vehicle providers are due
Jan. 20, 2011. Participation in both activities is open to all
categories of organizations.
The Flight Opportunities Program, part of NASA's Office of the
Chief Technologist, integrates the existing Commercial Reusable
Suborbital Research and Facilitated Access to the Space Environment
for Technology programs. The Flight Opportunities Program is
managed at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, CA.
More News
Pilot Applied Full Aft Stick And Nose-Up Trim, But The Airplane Remained On The Runway Analysis: The pilot reported that a preflight inspection and flight control checks revealed n>[...]
A Few Questions AND Answers To Help You Get MORE Out of ANN! 1) I forgot my password. How do I find it? 1) Easy... click here and give us your e-mail address--we'll send it to you >[...]
From 2022 (YouTube Edition): Before They’re All Gone... Humankind has been messing about in airplanes for almost 120-years. In that time, thousands of aircraft representing i>[...]
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) A transportation system that transports people and property by air between two points in the NAS using aircraft with advanced technologies, including el>[...]
Aero Linx: MQ-1B Predator The MQ-1B Predator is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-col>[...]