Sept 13, 2011

J D Harrington/Michael Braukus Headquarters, Washington 202-358-5241/1979 j d harrington@nasa gov / michael j braukus@nasa gov

Katherine K Martin Glenn Research Center, Cleveland 216-433-2406 katherine k martin@nasa gov

RELEASE: 11-299

NASA SELECTS COMPANIES TO STUDY SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION SPACECRAFT

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected five companies to develop concepts for demonstrating solar electric propulsion in space These capabilities are important for the agency's future human exploration missions to deep space

The selected companies, pending successful contract negotiations, are:

-- Analytical Mechanics Associates Inc , Hampton, Va -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp , Boulder, Colo -- The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif -- Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colo -- Northrop Grumman Systems Corp , Redondo Beach, Calif

The awards total approximately $3 million with a maximum individual contract award of $600,000 Each company will provide a final report to help define a mission concept to demonstrate the solar electric propulsion technologies, capabilities, and infrastructure required for sustainable, affordable human presence in space

The ability to move payloads reliably and cost effectively to high Earth orbits and beyond is critical for deep space human exploration The mission concept studies will identify technology gaps and look at innovative technical solutions for transportation using solar electric propulsion systems

NASA will use the studies to plan and implement a future flight demonstration mission that will test and validate key capabilities and technologies NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program is funding the studies The Space Technology Office at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is managing the contracts

For more information about NASA exploration and other programs, visit:

http://www nasa gov/exploration

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