For Release: April 29, 1996

June Malone
Office of Media Services
(205) 544-0034
june.malone@msfc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 96-32

NASA SEEKS LOW-COST PROPULSION TECHNOLOGY FROM UNLIKELY SOURCES

NASA is looking in unlikely places for innovative technologies that could significantly reduce the cost of launching payloads to orbit. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., issued a NASA Research Announcement on Friday for its Bantam System Technology Project. The goal of the effort is to identify readily available technologies and demonstrate their use for a propulsion system that could be capable of lifting approximately 500 pounds to orbit for about $1 million.

"We want to tap into existing technologies and common methods of manufacturing that are often available from companies not typically associated with NASA," said Danny Davis, manager of the Bantam Technology Project which is managed by Marshall’s Advanced Space Transportation Technology Office. "For example, we may receive proposals for propellant tanks from companies who make containment tanks for other uses such as dairy products, wine or chemicals. By using manufacturing processes and technologies that are already in place, the cost of developing a propulsion system could greatly be reduced and thus reduce the cost of transporting payloads to orbit.

"Our role is to demonstrate the technology," said Davis. "Industry can then develop it for future application."

While cutting the cost of small Earth-to-orbit transportation systems, the Bantam Technology Project also could provide flight test beds for next generation reusable launch vehicles or the evolution of existing vehicles.

Proposals are due to Marshall for evaluation in two cycles, the first in June and the second in July. The first phase focuses on low cost components to be demonstrated in ground testing including an engine, propellant delivery systems, tanks, pressurization and pneumatic systems, associated structures and electronics. NASA is interested in reducing component costs through adapting commercial manufacturing practices; using commercial off-the-shelf hardware; evolving low cost operations; and other low cost development approaches.

NASA anticipates multiple awards within the announcement’s budget of $9.5 million.

This activity is part of NASA’s initiative to explore new propulsion technologies for the future. The Advanced Space Transportation program managed at Marshall, NASA’s propulsion center of excellence, focuses on technological advances, not addressed by the Reusable Launch Vehicle program, that have the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of space access.