Independent assessment of sorce spacecraft battery performance sorce is an earth science mission launched in january 2003 with a five year design life. As of today, the mission is fully operational…

This federal contract award is for an independent assessment of the battery performance for the SORCE spacecraft, an Earth science mission launched in 2003 with a five-year design life. The Aerospace Corporation, a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), is the prime contractor. The award is from the Goddard Space Flight Center, a civilian agency, to provide qualified technical expertise to review the SORCE spacecraft battery performance and issues, including understanding the current battery management plan, assessing battery anomalies, and advising on the best approach to prolong the battery life. The contract has a ceiling value of $119,031.43 and is a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type. It is not set-aside and runs through September 30, 2019.

Independent assessment of sorce spacecraft battery performance sorce is an earth science mission launched in january 2003 with a five year design life. As of today, the mission is fully operational with the exception that the eagle- pitcher provided nickel hydrogen battery is degrading. The battery is made up of 11 common pressure vessels (cpvs) with 2 electrochemical cells per pressure vessel. Each of the cpvs falls into one of three basic categories: good cells, marginal cells and under-performing cells. Five of the cpvs are performing very well, three cpvs fall into the marginal category, and three cpvs are under-performing. The under-performing cells cause the majority of the reduction in the end of discharge voltage resulting in the need to reduce load. Evaluation and recommendation for prolong sorce battery life from an independent expert may help in extending sorce mission to meet science objectives. Battery life estimates are also useful in planning future missions for continuity of science and budgeting purposes. The contractor shall provide qualified technical expertise to review sorce spacecraft battery performance and issues. The contractor shall perform the following: review sorce spacecraft battery performance on a monthly basis understand current battery management plan and limitations provide independent battery expertise to assess the sorce spacecraft battery management provide consultation regarding battery anomalies participate in anomaly discussions via teleconference advise on best approach to prolong sorce spacecraft battery life the contractor will interface with members of the anomaly resolution team (art) which includes earth science mission operations project management, sorce mission director, goddard space flight center s applied engineering and technology directorate (aetd), mission assurance, orbital sciences corporation spacecraft manufacturer system engineers and the laboratory for atmospheric and space physics (lasp) operations team. The contractor shall provide recommendations either verbal during teleconferences or email to the anomaly resolution team.