NASA is looking for commercial partners to help develop next-generation space packs space step technology.
In a request for information (RFI), published on April 14, NASA revealed that it was seeking feedback from the space sector on its newly updated strategy to work with commercial partners in space. In this new strategy, NASA wants to work more closely with commercial partners in the development, construction and maintenance of space travel technologies, or extra-vehicle activities (EVAs), including spacecraft, the agency said in a statement.
Under this new strategy, the agency will “shift the acquisition of the Exploratory Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) system to a model in which NASA will purchase space services from commercial partners, rather than build it internally with traditional government contracts,” the statement said. . .
This means that NASA will look at commercial space for space packs and related hardware that astronauts will use for missions to both the International Space Station and to the moon under NASA Artemis program, which aims to bring people back to the lunar surface by 2024. NASA added that this equipment and technology will be used for the planned agency Gateway moon space station.
Related: The evolution of the spacecraft in pictures
“We hope to receive input from the industry on the feasibility of shifting our space exploration activities to a service-based model, such as our procurement for commercial freight and crew services,” said Mark Kirasich, Deputy Administrator of the NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, said in the same statement.
“This partnership opportunity will enable NASA and industry to work together as commercial space markets in a low orbit around Earth and then mature rapidly, enabling government investment to accelerate industry and our Artemis exploration plans together.”
This is not the first time NASA has contacted the commercial space sector for cooperation. NASA is currently working with commercial partners such as SpaceX and Boeing to develop and supply crew capsules for missions to the space station. In addition, NASA has just announced that SpaceX has received the contract after a competition between three companies to build the lunar lander for the agency’s Artemis program.
“We are always looking for ways to reduce taxpayers’ costs and focus our efforts and resources on future technology and our daring missions in deep space,” Kirasich said, adding: “NASA has a responsibility to taxpayers and future explorers. to re-examine its infrastructure as needed to reduce costs and improve performance, “he said.” As part of this strategy, the agency is opening the door to maximize competition and to commercialize space, including spaces and EVA capabilities. . “
While NASA will continue to reach out to and collaborate with commercial space companies on this technology, the agency will continue to develop its xEVA system, which includes its xEMU spacecraft – a next-generation spacecraft that NASA designed ‘internally’ with Artemis in mind. . , NASA said in the statement.
“Over the past few decades, our team has developed incredible knowledge about space travel and spacecraft activities and extensively studied the unique environments in which our astronauts need to work,” said Chris Hansen, manager of the Extravehicular Activity Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said. in the same statement. “We hope to link this to the ingenuity of the private sector to enable a versatile EVA capability.”
Email Chelsea Gohd at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.