Kistler Aerospace
Corp. has been awarded a contract by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight
Center (MSFC) to conduct a study for Alternate Access to the
International Space Station (ISS).
The Alternate Access to Station (AAS) study, part of NASA’s Space
Launch Initiative program, will assess U.S. contingency options to the
ISS. The ISS nominally uses the Space Shuttle or internationally
contributed foreign launch systems to deliver cargo to the ISS. NASA
is interested in studying potential augmentation of these resupply
methods with emerging launch service providers. This augmentation is
envisioned to enhance ISS operability.
During the three-month study, Kistler will develop and submit to
NASA a detailed roadmap showing how the K-1 can become a viable choice
to meet NASA’s ISS contingency resupply needs.
“NASA is very supportive of the U.S. emerging launch vehicle
providers. In this solicitation, we particularly wanted to hear from
small businesses such as Kistler,” said Dan Dumbacher, manager of the
2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program at NASA’s Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. “We have received very
innovative proposals and look forward to the results of the AAS study
such that we can move forward with the Alternate Access Project of the
Space Launch Initiative.”
As the world’s first commercial fully reusable launch vehicle, the
K-1 provides a unique capability to augment NASA’s resupply strategies
for the ISS. “The K-1 can provide NASA with low-cost, responsive and
flexible launch services for contingency resupply needs to the ISS,”
said Kistler Chief Executive Officer, Dr. George E. Mueller. “This
study is a first step in demonstrating how the K-1 will meet the NASA
visiting vehicle requirements for safe and efficient rendezvous and
berthing with the ISS.”
Kistler Aerospace is completing design and development of the K-1.
A fleet of five vehicles is planned to support launch rates of one per
week. The K-1 will become the reliable, low-cost provider of launch
services for commercial, civil, and military payloads destined for Low
Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geosynchronous Earth
Orbit (GEO), as well as to ISS. Orbital flight tests and commercial
operations will be conducted from Woomera, Australia, followed by the
commencement of commercial operations from the Nevada Test Site.
Kistler has fewer than 50 employees and is a privately funded U.S.
company with corporate offices in Kirkland, Wash., and executive
offices in Los Angeles.
For more information on Kistler and the K-1 vehicle, and to access
the K-1 Payload User’s Guide, visit the company’s Web site at
www.kistleraerospace.com.
