NASA Awards $1.4 Million for Orbital Transfer Vehicle Studies

NASA has awarded contracts to six companies to conduct studies aimed at developing cost-effective methods for launching and delivering spacecraft to challenging orbits. The total value of the firm-fixed-price awards is approximately $1.4 million and includes nine individual studies. The selected companies are:

– Arrow Science and Technology LLC, Webster, Texas
– Blue Origin LLC, Merritt Island, Florida
– Firefly Aerospace Inc., Cedar Park, Texas
– Impulse Space Inc., Redondo Beach, California
– Rocket Lab, Long Beach, California
– United Launch Services LLC, Centennial, Colorado

According to Joe Dant, the orbital transfer vehicle strategic initiative owner for NASA’s Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, these studies will help the agency assess innovative solutions for delivering multiple spacecraft to various hard-to-reach orbits. Dant stated, “With the increasing maturity of commercial space delivery capabilities, we’re asking companies to demonstrate how they can meet NASA’s need for multi-spacecraft and multi-orbit delivery to difficult-to-reach orbits beyond current launch service offerings. This will increase unique science capability and lower the agency’s overall mission costs.”

Company-Specific Studies and Innovations

Each of the selected firms will explore different applications for orbital transfer vehicles in future NASA missions.

Arrow Science and Technology is collaborating with Quantum Space to develop a study focusing on Quantum’s Ranger, a multi-mission spacecraft designed for rapid maneuverability and adaptability. This vehicle aims to facilitate payload delivery from low Earth orbit to lunar orbit.

Blue Origin will conduct two studies, one of which will evaluate the Blue Ring, a large, high-mobility space platform. This platform offers comprehensive payload delivery services and utilizes hybrid solar-electric and chemical propulsion to reach destinations including geostationary orbit, cislunar space, and even Mars. Additionally, Blue Origin will study enhancements to its New Glenn upper stage.

Firefly Aerospace is focusing on its Elytra orbital vehicles, which provide on-demand payload delivery and other services across cislunar space. The Elytra Dark variant is particularly notable for its ability to function as a transfer vehicle, supporting operations in lunar orbit for over five years.

Impulse Space will produce studies around its two vehicles, Mira and Helios. Mira is designed for high-thrust payload hosting and deployment, while Helios serves as a high-energy kick stage for rapid payload delivery to various orbits.

Rocket Lab will investigate the upper stage of its Neutron rocket and a long-life orbital transfer vehicle based on its Explorer spacecraft. Both options are equipped with propulsion systems tailored for missions to medium Earth and geosynchronous orbits, as well as deep space targets such as the Moon and Mars.

United Launch Services will examine the capabilities of an extended-duration Centaur V upper stage. This stage could directly deliver multiple rideshare spacecraft to different destinations in cislunar space, eliminating the need for additional rocket stages or transfer vehicles.

Future Applications and Impact

NASA expects to complete the studies by mid-September 2025. The findings will inform mission design and planning, as well as strategies for acquiring commercial launch services for risk-tolerant payloads. This initiative may potentially expand delivery services for larger payloads and missions with higher risk profiles in the future.

The awards were made through NASA’s VADR (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare Launch Services) contract, which aims to foster growth in the U.S. commercial launch market. This effort is designed to provide greater access to space at a reduced cost, benefiting scientific research and technological advancements.

For more information about NASA’s Launch Services Program, visit [NASA’s official site](https://www.nasa.gov/launch-services-program-end).

Contact:
Josh Finch
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected]

Leejay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-747-8310
[email protected]