David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-094

NASA SEEKS ACADEMIC PARTNERS FOR SMALLSAT TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION

WASHINGTON -- NASA is seeking small spacecraft technology project
proposals from U.S. colleges and universities that would like to
collaborate with agency researchers.

Small spacecraft, or smallsats, represent a growing field of space
research and operations in which universities often have led the way
in technology development. Smallsats, some of which are as small as a
four-inch cube, are not expected to replace conventional spacecraft,
but sometimes can provide an alternative to larger, more costly
spacecraft. Smallsats can serve as platforms for rapid technology
testing or specialized scientific research and exploration not
otherwise possible. Smallsats also can be developed relatively
quickly and inexpensively, and can share a ride to orbit with larger
spacecraft.

"This new opportunity will engage university students and graduate
researchers in advancing technology of value to NASA and the nation,
and help strengthen our high-tech work force," said Andrew Petro,
program executive for the Small Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. "There is a vibrant small spacecraft
community emerging within America's universities and NASA is taking
steps to increase our collaboration with that community. The
universities will benefit from the deep experience NASA has in space
research and technology, while NASA will benefit from fresh ideas and
cost-conscious innovation at the universities."

NASA expects to competitively select approximately 10 proposals. Each
team will form proposal partnerships with researchers from any of
NASA's field centers. Awards for each project will include as much as
$100,000 ($150,000 for teams of more than one school). Proposals
submitted in response to this NASA cooperative agreement notice are
due June 5.

In addition, NASA will fund the time for NASA employees to work with
each selected team. Project funding is for one year with the
potential to continue for a second year. Proposed projects could
include anything from laboratory work to advance a particular
spacecraft technology to flight testing of a new smallsat. For
example, projects might focus on a technology area such as
propulsion, power or communications, or on a smallsat capability,
such as formation flight or satellite rendezvous.

Details of the opportunity and instructions for submitting proposals
are provided in a Cooperative Agreement Notice that is available
online at:

http://tinyurl.com/cb3mqdw

For additional information on the Small Spacecraft Technology Program,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/smallsats

The Small Spacecraft Technology Program is part of NASA's Space
Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing,
testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For
more information about NASA's investment in space technology, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech