Innovative Programs announcements

07/23/05 00:00:00    

By Michael Mealling

Brant Sponberg wowed the conference today by releasing details on the Innovative Programs Office which includes the Centennial Challenges program and other new programs that he discussed later. He announed a new Challenge for space suit gloves (and even mentioned Rand Simberg's original article on the topic). Its managed by Alanz Aerospace.

But what really wowed the conference was this slide:

The stair steps include “Suborbital Launch”, “Low cost ETO launch, Proximity Operations, Reenty, Crew Transport, In-space propellant provisioning,and small lunar transport. Procurements include prizes, OTA and FAR Part 12 as well as other methods depending on legislative ability. They're going to procurement requests for microgravity research from suborbital providers. May offer altitude prize for suborbital vehicles higher than the typical 100km.

Moving to ETO he mentions ISS resuply, they're interested in presurized and unpressurized. They specifically want unpressurized due to the mass savings. Moving on to ISS proximity and working with industry on making sure that can happen. That should make CSI happy. Moving on to re-entry and be able to get to the ISS and CEV downmass. May offer a prize for re-entry to make sure they don't miss a provider.

Now its Crew Transport which would be done similarly to re-entry. And will be getting to in space propellant provisioning and small lunar transport. Both done with prizes now. Specifically they're looking at a small soft lunar lander prize once they get the authority.

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