NASA Seeks Proposals For Technology Flight Demonstrations And Information About Suborbital Flight Services

[NASA News <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dec. 21, 2010

David E. Steitz 
Headquarters, Washington                                    
202-358-1730 
david.steitz@xxxxxxxx 

Leslie Williams 
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. 
661-276-3893 
leslie.a.williams@xxxxxxxx 

RELEASE: 10-345

NASA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR TECHNOLOGY FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT SUBORBITAL FLIGHT SERVICES

WASHINGTON -- 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. 

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, Calif. 

The announcement of opportunity can be viewed at: 



http://go.usa.gov/rlq 


For more information about NASA's Flight Opportunities Program, visit: 




http://flightopportunities.nasa.gov 

	
-end-



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