TRW Inc. has been selected to participate in a
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center program designed to streamline
the acquisition of small- and medium-class satellites for space science, Earth science and advanced technology missions.
The Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition program, known as Rapid II, features a catalog of satellite core-systems that can be acquired by NASA or any government agency
using commercial procurement practices. By matching missions with pre-selected spacecraft, NASA offers scientific customers quicker and more affordable access
to space.
“We’re pleased to be included in NASA’s Rapid II catalog,” said Fred Ricker, vice president and general manager, TRW Space & Laser Programs Division. “Our
offerings will provide customers with proven, reliable spacecraft at the best value for a wide range of missions.”
The Rapid II catalog features three spacecraft from TRW’s family of lightweight spacecraft and includes derivatives of both the Total Ozone Mapping
Spectrometer-Earth Probe built for NASA, which has exceeded its specified design life by 75 percent and continues to provide critical data on the earth’s ozone layer;
and ROCSAT-1, built for the Republic of China for scientific and earth remote sensing missions.
As NASA identifies missions, catalog participants will be given an opportunity to compete for providing the spacecraft. All mission specific spacecraft will be
awarded under firm, fixed-price orders, with delivery expected between 18 and 36 months after placement of the delivery order. Inclusion in the Rapid II catalog
enables TRW to bid for contracts with a potential cumulative value of $1.5 billion over the five-year contract period.
TRW Space & Electronics Group builds communications, scientific and defense spacecraft for military, civil and commercial customers; produces, integrates and
tests payloads; develops advanced space instruments; and integrates experiments into spacecraft. It is an operating unit of TRW Inc., which provides advanced
technology products and services for the global automotive, aerospace and information systems markets. TRW’s Web site is at http://www.trw.com.
