Seattle, WA – Jan 5, 2010 Andrews Space announced today that it is part of the winning Rocket City Space Pioneers Team selected by NASA to provide critical data moon mission data.
The Rocket City Space Pioneers (RCSP), the Huntsville-based Google Lunar X PRIZE team, is one of only three organizations selected to supply flight component test data to NASA through its Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data contract. In October, NASA’s Johnson Space Center made the contract award to six teams, including Dynetics (RCSP), out of 20 total teams competing for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. The ILDD teams will provide data to NASA to enable the development of future human and robotic lander vehicles and exploration systems. Of the six selected for the original contract, three were down-selected for this first task order, which will allow RCSP to provide NASA with critical data from the hot fire test of a candidate rocket engine system and lunar rover system.
Dynetics is the lead contractor on the Rocket City Space Pioneers team, which is also competing for the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE. The team is comprised of Teledyne Brown Engineering, Draper Laboratories, Andrews Space, Spaceflight Services, University of Alabama Huntsville and the Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation (VCSI).
The Rocket City Space Pioneers are developing a low-cost lunar lander/rover system for conducting commercial and scientific missions on the Moon and potentially other planetary bodies. The lander/rover system is capable of making a soft landing on a planetary body and deploying a rover measuring approximately 20x30x40 centimeters and weighing less than 10 kilograms. The lander, when stowed, measures approximately 60x60x98 centimeters and 200 kilograms.
Andrews is responsible for the rover as well as developing the SHERPA tug which will transport the lander and other payloads to Low Lunar Orbit.
“Our team is excited about demonstrating critical elements of our lander and rover,” said Tim Pickens, team leader of the Rocket City Space Pioneers. “We look forward to our continued support of NASA by providing commercial data in order to make space exploration more affordable and sustainable in these critical lean times.”
About Andrews Space:
Andrews Space, Inc. was founded in 1999 to be a catalyst in the commercialization and development of space. The company is an affordable integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced space technologies. To learn more, please visit: www.andrews-space.com.
About Rocket City Space Pioneers:
The Rocket City Space Pioneers are developing a low-cost lunar lander/rover system for conducting commercial and scientific missions on the Moon and potentially other planetary bodies. The lander/rover system is capable of making a soft landing on a planetary body and deploying a rover measuring approximately 20x30x40 centimeters and weighing less than 10 kilograms. The lander, when stowed, measures approximately 60x60x98 centimeters and 200 kilograms. For more information, go to www.rocketcityspacepioneers.com.
