The commercial partnerships portfolio within NASA's space technology mission directorate (STMD) encompasses six key programs: (1) flight opportunities, (2) small business innovation research (SBIR)…

This federal contract award was made by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center to The Aerospace Corporation, a non-profit organization, under an existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract called the Specialized Engineering, Evaluation and Test Services (SEETS) contract (NNJ11HB94C). The $299,567 contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee task order under the SEETS IDIQ.

The work to be performed supports NASA's Commercial Partnerships Portfolio within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, specifically the Flight Opportunities program which aims to foster the maturation and adoption of new space technologies through demonstration opportunities. Under this task order, Aerospace will provide technical and commercial space analysis to support ongoing and future projects addressing commercial small launch capabilities, including identifying and analyzing launch technology barriers, assessing opportunities for commercial engagement, and analyzing risks to spaceflight participants. This contract does not have a set-aside designation.

The commercial partnerships portfolio within NASA's space technology mission directorate (STMD) encompasses six key programs: (1) flight opportunities, (2) small business innovation research (SBIR) / small business technology transfer (STTR), (3) centennial challenges, (4) prizes & challenges, (5) regional economic development, and (6) emerging space grants. These programs represent a key aspect of NASA's strategy to stimulate the commercial space industry and spark economic growth, while leveraging the industry's commercial capabilities through public-private partnerships, to deliver technologies and capabilities needed for future NASA, other government agency, and commercial missions. In support of that strategy, the flight opportunities (FO) program is helping to foster maturation of commercial flight opportunities for the rapid development of space technology. Maturation, and through maturation, adoption of a new and innovative space technology is dependent on the ability to demonstrate the technology in a relevant operational environment prior to mission use. The NASA FO office has utilized a contract with the AEROSPACE corporation (AEROSPACE) to support IT in awarding efforts to develop the suborbital and small satellite (SMALLSAT) market. NASA awarded the specialized engineering, evaluation and test services (SEETS) contract (NNJ11HB94C) to AEROSPACE in april 2011 as an agency indefinite quantity indefinite delivery (IDIQ) contract that is administered by the NASA johnson space center (JSC). Under previous task orders issued to AEROSPACE by the NASA armstrong flight research center (AFRC), AEROSPACE has provided technical and commercial space analysis of FO suborbital and small orbital launch vehicle development and flight campaigns, as well as experimental payload development and testing. AEROSPACE also provided assistance with technical monitoring of and reporting on activities being performed under ongoing public-private partnerships, including FO announcement of collaborative opportunities (ACO) and tipping point projects. AEROSPACE subject matter experts (SMES) performed an independent assessment of effects of spin-stabilized rocket flight environments on the NASA ames research center (ARC) affordable vehicle avionics (AVA) developmental system. Earlier relevant accomplishments include development of a model based on the ECO-physics of launch for characterizing market demand for suborbital reusable launch vehicles (SRLVS) to gain market insight, and analysis of technical investments supporting STMD suborbital and SMALLSAT initiatives. AEROSPACE also identified and analyzed srlv and SMALLSAT market barriers, focusing on affordable launch practices and identification of tipping point investment areas to better assure commercialization of new relevant technologies. In addition, AEROSPACE performed a parametric study on projected safety of SRLVS and of space flight participants (SFPS) aboard to monitor technology demonstration payloads. To facilitate optimization of STMD investment opportunities with U.S. Industry, the FO program is tasking AEROSPACE to continue providing technical and commercial space analysis to ongoing and future projects addressing commercial small launch capabilities. AEROSPACE will identify and analyze srlv and SMALLSAT launch technology barriers, focusing on system performance improvements and enabling technologies, will assess opportunities for furthering commercial engagement, and will perform further analysis of risks to spaceflight participants (SFPS) aboard SRLVS to monitor technology demonstration payloads.