NASA has awarded the Optical Assembly contract to ITT Space Systems LLC, Rochester, N.Y., for use on the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) project.

This is a sole source, firm-fixed price contract in the amount of $6.2 million with a period of performance of 15 months from the date of award.

The contractor will provide two Optical Assemblies to be integrated into Optical Modules to transmit and receive data through free space as part of the LCRD Flight Payload. The purpose of the LCRD project is to demonstrate optical communications relay services between geosynchronous orbit and Earth over an extended period, and gain knowledge and experience that will enable NASA to design, procure and operate cost-effective future optical communications systems and relay networks.

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