ISU - Summer 2024

NASA Selects 12 Companies for Key Technology Development

NASA
NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, conducts mobility testing at NASA Glenn’s Simulated Lunar Operation Laboratory (SLOPE). Credit: Bridget Caswell/Alcyon Technical Services, LLC. Credits: NASA

Ibadan, 26 April 2023. – NASA has selected 16 proposals from 12 companies under the 2022 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) to advance capabilities and technologies related to NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives. As a result, the cadre of U.S. industry-led teams will test a new lunar rover tire design, develop a robotically assembled power system, build an electrically actuated device to join in-space propellant transfer lines, and more.

Under unfunded Space Act Agreements, NASA will provide access to its unique facilities and technical expertise. As a result, it will enable the agency to directly support the continued development of promising technologies without transferring funds.

“By sharing our knowledge and facilities with U.S. companies, NASA helps mature capabilities that promise to benefit our objectives and the entire aerospace industry,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). “These awards allow us to work with small and large companies to advance some of the most crucial technologies for future exploration.”

Various companies, including small and large businesses, will lead the selected proposals. Furthermore, they will develop a broad range of technologies. In addition, the parties will negotiate the performance period for each agreement, with a tentative duration of between 12 and 24 months. In general, the total estimated value of agency resources to support the agreements is approximately $14.5 million.

You can find the names of the companies here.

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