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