NASA Selects Commercial Space Partners for Collaborative Partnerships

[docmordrid]

Then why is SpaceX involved?

Sounds more general to me, with 2 transport providers for redundancy.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

I still think it is for both SpaceX and ULA access to Methane engine and tank technology that is in NASA possession.

Other useful data on Methane is lessons learned and things and errors in design to avoid.

[yg1968]

Here is the selection statement for these unfunded agreements:
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/CCSC_Selection_Statement.pdf

Here is an article which discusses the selection statement:
http://spacenews.com/new-nasa-pacts-look-to-rush-commercial-space-tech-to-shelves/

Here is a pre-proposal presentation on the Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities:
https://prod.nais.nasa.gov/eps/eps_data/156859-OTHER-004-001.pdf

http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/ccsc/

[yg1968]

There is slightly more detail on the proposals in slide 4 of this presentation:
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/NAC_HEO_Gerst4final-1.pdf

ATK
-Development of space logistics, hosted payload, and other space transportation capabilities.

Final Frontier Design
–  Development of intra-vehicular activity space suits for high altitude and space flight.

SpaceX
–  Development of space transportation capabilities to and from deep space for unmanned and ultimately crew missions.

ULA
–  Development of launch vehicle technologies that enable new capabilities while substantially reducing costs.

[Mariusuiram]

Surprised I missed this earlier. As people have said, its just about sharing resources, but it also makes a lot of sense.

For SpaceX, they have said they are designing a mission architecture along with the BFR and MCT to reach Mars (and bring the MCT back to LEO). This SAA allows SpaceX to share these concepts with NASA so it can provide support or potentially technologies that could be useful. Most importantly, IMHO, it means NASA is aware of the designs and capabilities for mission planning while SpaceX becomes aware of required capabilities for future NASA missions.

SpaceX will want additional business for any new rocket (including FH) and understanding requirements to win additional launches from NASA or impact the way they plan future missions is hugely important.

The dream would be that with some advanced knowledge of these new systems & their costs, NASA can close the case for science missions that were too expensive before. Not just from reduced launch costs, but if they reduce weight constraints enough to allow lower costs of production or reduced transit times (kind of like the discussion around Europa Clipper and SLS).

[Robotbeat]

Given the scale of SpaceX's ambitions, I think (if BFR or MCT ever come to fruition) that it will be the other way around: SpaceX's capabilities will drive NASA's Mars architectures (as well, I'm sure, as other companies driving some of the approaches of exploring asteroids or the Moon). NASA simply doesn't have the funding to reproduce an entire Mars architecture if SpaceX already has one, and neither should they (if BFR/MCT ever come to fruition). Just buy a ticket, send up some cargo and astronauts.

And again, the same applies to other companies and destinations. If things do actually work out, NASA will be able to spend a fairly small amount of money to do Mars exploration and thus could even focus on some lunar and asteroid missions.

Big if, there, but honestly it seems more likely than going to Mars with SLS/Orion.