Dec. 22, 2011 David E. Steitz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1730 david.e.steitz@xxxxxxxx Mike Finneran Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. 757-344-4611 michael.p.finneran@xxxxxxxx CONTRACT RELEASE: C11-054 NASA SELECTS FIRMS FOR ADVANCED ENTRY SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected Airborne Systems North America of Santa Anna, Calif., ILC Dover LP of Frederica, Del., and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company of Littleton, Colo., to support agency inflatable aerodynamic decelerator research and development, including work on the Space Technology Program's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) project. Inflatable aerodynamic decelerators are lightweight outer shells that slow and protect spacecraft as they enter planetary atmospheres. This technology allows increased payload mass, makes it possible to reach higher surface elevations for robotic and human exploration of solar system destinations, and improves cargo return capabilities from the International Space Station. Contractors will provide NASA with services for the design, analysis, fabrication and testing of project systems, including the thermal protection system and inflatable structures for aerocapture and direct entry applications. The cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity task order contracts have a maximum cumulative agency value of $47 million over a five-year performance period. NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will administer the contracts for the agency. For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
