{"id":217437,"date":"2025-05-15T06:13:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T20:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=7195b60fec0c04369191fcb97e60b6a3"},"modified":"2025-05-15T06:13:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T20:13:26","slug":"nasa-awards-launch-service-task-order-for-asperas-galaxy-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=217437","title":{"rendered":"NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Aspera\u2019s Galaxy Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the agency\u2019s Aspera mission, a SmallSat to study galaxy formation and evolution, providing new insights into how the universe works.<\/p>\n

The selection is part of NASA\u2019s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare<\/a> (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery\/indefinite-quantity launch service task order awards during VADR\u2019s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total contract value of $300 million.<\/p>\n

Through the observation of ultraviolet light, Aspera will examine hot gas in the space between galaxies, called the intergalactic medium. The mission will study the inflow and outflow of gas from galaxies, a process thought to contribute to star formation.<\/p>\n

Aspera is part of NASA\u2019s Pioneers Program in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, which funds compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost using small hardware and modest payloads. The principal investigator for Aspera is Carlos Vargas at the University of Arizona in Tucson. NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, manages the VADR contract.<\/p>\n

To learn more about NASA\u2019s Aspera mission and the Pioneers Program, visit:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/go.nasa.gov\/42U1Wkn<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

-end-<\/p>\n

Joshua Finch \/ Tiernan Doyle
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Patti Bielling
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-501-7575
patricia.a.bielling@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

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