Back to the Moon

[Guest]

 

http://www.moondaily.com/ MDA selected to build robotic interfaces for Canadarm3 on Lunar Gateway by Staff Writers Brampton, Canada (SPX) Aug 21, 2019 File illustration of Canadarm3 operating at the NASA proposed ISS-partners' Lunar Gateway concept. MDA, a Maxar company, has been awarded two contracts from the Canadian Space Agency for work on Phase A of the Gateway External Robotic Interfaces project. The Gateway External Robotic Interfaces will act as critical touch points for the eXploration Large Arm (XLA) and the eXploration Dexterous Arm (XDA), the major robotic manipulator elements that form Canadarm3, the artificial intelligence-enabled robotic system that will service the Gateway. The Gateway External Robotic Interfaces will be the standardized connection points between the external robotics on the Gateway and its modules, visiting spacecraft, payloads and replacement units. "MDA is proud to continue our legacy of working with the Canadian Space Agency and its international partners to design, build and deploy robotic systems in support of space exploration missions," said Mike Greenley, group president of MDA. "This project will leverage MDA's world-leading space robotics capabilities, gained through the Canadarm programs, and will be an important component of Canada's contribution to the NASA-led Gateway. We are proud to deliver new jobs in Canada and engage our Canadian supply base in preparation for Canadarm3." On Phase A of the Gateway External Robotic Interfaces project, MDA will work with the Canadian Space Agency to develop the interface and system requirements and undertake concept and technology development activities necessary to provide the Gateway module and element developers with information to support the integration of the external robotics and its interfaces. The Government of Canada announced its commitment to the Gateway to enable future exploration missions, including human lunar landings. Similar to the robotics provided by Canada on the International Space Station, Canadarm3 will provide Extra-Vehicular Robotics (EVR) services to the Gateway including external logistics, maintenance, inspection, assembly and reconfiguration, and support to external science payloads. Since the first deployment of Canadarm in 1981, MDA, working with the Canadian government, has led the design and development of Canada's primary contribution - robotics - to space exploration missions through the US Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. Canadarm flew on over 90 shuttle missions, and Canadarm2 and Dextre have been in operation on the International Space Station for more than 18 years. As a leader in delivering space infrastructure to explore and advance the use of space, Maxar is playing a key role in NASA's Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024 and enable future missions to Mars. Maxar will build and fly the first element of the NASA-led Gateway, called the Power and Propulsion Element. Maxar will also provide a robotic arm called SAMPLR, which is intended to be part of a future payload delivery to the lunar surface under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract. SAMPLR will be the first robotic arm on the surface of the Moon since the Surveyor missions more than 50 years ago. SolAero Technologies Awarded Contract to Supply Solar Power Modules to Maxar Technologies for NASA's Power and Propulsion Element Albuquerque, NM (SPX) Aug 21 - SolAero Technologies Corp. (SolAero), has been awarded a contract by Maxar Technologies, a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, to power the Power and Propulsion Element of NASA's Gateway. Under the terms of the contract, SolAero will design and manufacture Solar Power Modules (SPMs) that will supply nearly 70 kilowatts to the Gateway as part of NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans, which will enable future missions to Mars. The SPMs will be designed and manufactured in SolAero's state-of-the-art production facility in Albuquerque, NM. The SPMs will incorporate SolAero's latest generation, quadruple-junction "Z4J" solar cells, which exhibit superior radiation hardness in the space environment, and utilize automated assembly methods pioneered by SolAero for high-volume production of satellite solar panels and modules. "SolAero has had the honor of participating in over 30 NASA missions in our 20 year history and we're once again very proud to have the opportunity to support NASA on a trailblazing endeavor," said Brad Clevenger, President and CEO of SolAero. "We're also excited to continue working with our longtime partners at Maxar to bring our latest generation solar cell technology and advanced manufacturing capability to the Power and Propulsion Element." "In order to deliver revolutionary space infrastructure and Earth intelligence capabilities to our customers, Maxar carefully chooses strategic partners who embrace innovation, experience, and efficiency," said Mike Gold, Maxar's Vice President of Civil Space. "We're delighted to add SolAero as a supplier on the Power and Propulsion Element spacecraft." + SolAero Technologies

[Guest]

NASA asks American companies to deliver supplies for Artemis Lunar missions
by Tammy Long for KSC News
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Aug 20, 2019

file illustration

In another major step toward landing American astronauts on the lunar surface by 2024, NASA is asking industry to respond to a Request for Proposals to deliver cargo, science experiments and supplies to the Gateway to support Artemis missions to the lunar surface.

Commercial supply services will support the agency's Artemis lunar exploration program which includes sending the first woman and the next man to surface of the Moon within five years, and preparing for human exploration of Mars.

The agency is seeking capabilities from American companies to deliver a logistics spacecraft with pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the Gateway for six months of docked operations followed by automatic disposal. The logistics spacecraft must launch on a commercial rocket.

"Working with industry to deliver supplies necessary to support our lunar missions is a critical step to accelerate our return to the Moon under the Artemis program including meeting that bold goal to land the next American astronauts on the Moon by 2024," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

"This solicitation builds on the capabilities NASA pioneered in low-Earth orbit with commercial cargo resupply to the International Space Station and is the next step in commercialization of deep space. We look forward to industry's response to our latest solicitation."

The agency previously asked industry for innovative ideas to transport supplies between Earth and the Gateway, which will be located about 250,000 miles away in a lunar orbit. NASA followed up that request with a draft solicitation earlier this summer.

"We chose to minimize spacecraft requirements on industry to allow for commercial innovation, but we are asking industry to propose their best solutions for delivering cargo and enabling our deep space supply chain," said Mark Wiese, NASA's Gateway logistics element manager at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"In addition to delivering cargo, science and other supplies with these services, private industry also has the opportunity to deliver other elements of our lunar architecture with this solicitation."

This solicitation is for a multi-award, firm-fixed price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for 15 years, with a maximum $7 billion value. The guaranteed minimum value for any award is two missions.

NASA is also asking responders to address logistics spacecraft design, cargo mass capability, pressurized volume, power availability for payloads and, transit time to Gateway.

Following initial award, there may be future contract opportunities for new service providers to ensure capabilities remain competitive. If approved in advance by NASA, a commercial provider may also use a mission to deliver, remove and/or return non-NASA cargo as long as it does not interfere with the agency mission, furthering the development of a robust deep space economy.

This solicitation is the latest in a line of work by the agency to accelerate its Moon to Mars exploration plans by working with American aerospace companies. NASA recently awarded a contract to Maxar Technologies to design, develop, launch and demonstrate the power and propulsion element by 2022. Negotiations are ongoing for development of the habitation and logistics outpost (HALO) module. The agency is also working on another draft solicitation for the integrated human landing system. A final solicitation will be released in the future.

Charged with returning to the Moon within five years, NASA's lunar exploration plan encompasses a two-phase approach: speed - landing on the Moon by 2024 - and establishing a sustained multi-national human presence on and around the Moon by 2028. The agency will leverage what it learns on the Moon to prepare for the next giant leap - sending astronauts to Mars.

[Don Hudson]

Very cool, thanks for posting, Marshall.