NASA attracted six companies, including Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and United Launch Alliance, for the development of spacecraft delivery technologies to hard -to -reach orbit. The agency allocated $ 1.4 million to these projects.
We are talking about creating the so -called orbital transport devices. They are launched with the rocket and then deliver satellites to the specified orbit, which are difficult to achieve in the usual way.
NASA plans to use these technologies first for “less risky” missions, but in the future it will be able to deliver large goods and devices that require increased reliability. It will also help to send missions to the moon and Mars.
Six companies are working on nine projects:
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Strelka Science and Technology With Quantum space Study the delivery of goods from low orbit to lunar.
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Blue origin Makes two research: for the Blue Ring platform (different orbits, including the moon and Mars) and for the upper stage of the New Glenn rocket.
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Firefly Aerospace Checks his Elytra to work on lunar and near -moon orbits.
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Impulse space Creates Mira (maneuverable device) and Helios (can change orbits from low to geostationary).
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Rocket laboratory Develops systems for Neutron missiles and for the Explorer apparatus for orbits to the moon and Mars.
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United Launch Alliance Studies the upper stage of the Centaur V for the delivery of satellites to near -moon orbit.
