{"id":262520,"date":"2025-08-06T06:09:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=5d2162e5122562d61688a793e31ce2a1"},"modified":"2025-08-06T06:09:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:09:13","slug":"nasa-selects-six-companies-to-provide-orbital-transfer-vehicle-studies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=262520","title":{"rendered":"NASA Selects Six Companies to Provide Orbital Transfer Vehicle Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-image-carousel grid-container grid-container-block padding-top-4 padding-bottom-4 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-image-carousel\">\n<div id=\"carousel-wrapper-carousel-6892724ba6ead\" class=\"hds-carousel-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-carousel-slider margin-0\" id=\"image-carousel-slider-carousel-6892724ba6ead\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-client-id=\"carousel-6892724ba6ead\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-variation=\"carousel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-autoplay=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-autoplay-speed=\"2000\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-play-pause=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-transition-type=\"slide\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-progress=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-progress-labels=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-start-label=\"Start\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-end-label=\"End\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-labels-initialized=\"true\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png 4267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arrowscienceandtechnology.png?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Rendering of Quantum\u2019s Ranger spacecraft engineered for rapid maneuverability and adaptability, enabling multi-destination delivery for missions from low Earth orbit to cislunar space.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Arrow Science and Technology\/Quantum Space\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/blueorigin.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Rendering of Blue Ring, a large high-mobility space platform providing full-service payload delivery, on-board edge computing, hosting, and end-to-end mission operations.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Blue Origin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fireflyaerospace.png?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Rendering of Firefly\u2019s Elytra Dark orbital vehicle deploying Firefly\u2019s Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Firefly Aerospace<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg 6113w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsemira.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Mira, a high-thrust, highly maneuverable spacecraft for payload hosting and deployment.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Impulse Space<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?w=960\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 51% 62%; object-position: 51% 62%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/impulsehelios.png?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Helios, a high-energy kick stage to rapidly deliver payloads to medium Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit, and beyond. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Impulse Space<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabtwo.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Pictured, two spacecraft for NASA and the University of California at Berkeley\u2019s Space Sciences Laboratory\u2019s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission. The spacecraft are based on Rocket Lab\u2019s Explorer spacecraft, a configurable, high delta-V interplanetary platform.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Rocket Lab<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg?w=799\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg?resize=300,158 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg?resize=768,404 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg?resize=400,210 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rocketlabneutron.jpg?resize=600,315 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Rocket Lab&#8217;s reusable rocket Neutron, a medium-lift class rocket designed for reuse and launch frequency to deliver cost-effective, reliable, and responsive launch for commercial and government missions.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Rocket Lab<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav display-flex margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" data-carousel-id=\"image-carousel-slider-carousel-6892724ba6ead\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-prev\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M3.5,4.5l3.7-3.6L6.3,0L1.8,4.5L6.3,9l0.9-0.9L3.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-right-0\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits.<\/p>\n<p>The firm-fixed-price awards comprise nine studies with a maximum total value of approximately $1.4 million. The awardees are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arrow Science and Technology LLC, Webster, Texas<\/li>\n<li>Blue Origin LLC, Merritt Island, Florida<\/li>\n<li>Firefly Aerospace Inc., Cedar Park, Texas<\/li>\n<li>Impulse Space Inc., Redondo Beach, California<\/li>\n<li>Rocket Lab, Long Beach, California<\/li>\n<li>United Launch Services LLC, Centennial, Colorado<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cWith the increasing maturity of commercial space delivery capabilities, we&#8217;re asking companies to demonstrate how they can meet NASA\u2019s need for multi-spacecraft and multi-orbit delivery to difficult-to-reach orbits beyond current launch service offerings,\u201d said Joe Dant, orbital transfer vehicle strategic initiative owner for the Launch Services Program at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. \u201cThis will increase unique science capability and lower the agency\u2019s overall mission costs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each of the six companies will deliver studies exploring future application of orbital transfer vehicles for NASA missions:<\/p>\n<p>Arrow will partner with Quantum Space for its study. Quantum\u2019s Ranger provides payload delivery service as a multi-mission spacecraft engineered for rapid maneuverability and adaptability, enabling multi-destination delivery for missions from low Earth orbit to lunar orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Origin will produce two studies, including one for Blue Ring, a large, high-mobility space platform providing full-service payload delivery, on-board edge computing, hosting, and end-to-end mission operations. It uses hybrid solar-electric and chemical propulsion capability to reach geostationary, cislunar, Mars, and interplanetary destinations. The second is a New Glenn upper stage study.<\/p>\n<p>Firefly\u2019s line of Elytra orbital vehicles offers on-demand payload delivery, imaging, long-haul communications, and domain awareness across cislunar space. Firefly\u2019s Elytra Dark is equipped to serve as a transfer vehicle and enable ongoing operations in lunar orbit for more than five years.<\/p>\n<p>Impulse Space will produce two studies. The company provides in-space mobility with two vehicles, Mira and Helios. Mira is a high-thrust, highly maneuverable spacecraft for payload hosting and deployment, while Helios is a high-energy kick stage to rapidly deliver payloads from low Earth to medium Earth orbits, geostationary orbits and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s two studies will feature the upper stage of the company\u2019s Neutron rocket, as well as a long-life orbital transfer vehicle based on its Explorer spacecraft. Both vehicles are equipped with their own propulsion systems and other subsystems for missions to medium Earth and geosynchronous orbit and deep space destinations like the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth asteroids.<\/p>\n<p>United Launch Alliance will assess the cislunar mission capabilities of an extended-duration Centaur V upper stage. Centaur would be capable of directly delivering multiple rideshare spacecraft to two different orbital destinations in cislunar space, avoiding the need for an additional rocket stage or orbital transfer vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>The studies will be complete by mid-September. NASA will use the findings to inform mission design, planning, and commercial launch acquisition strategies for risk-tolerant payloads, with a possibility of expanding delivery services to larger-sized payloads and to less risk-tolerant missions in the future.<\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program selected providers through the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/vadr-venture-class-acquisition-of-dedicated-and-rideshare-launch-services\/\">VADR<\/a> (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare Launch Services) contract, which helps foster growth of the U.S. commercial launch market, enabling greater access to space at a lower cost for science and technology missions.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launch-services-program\"><strong>https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launch-services-program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">-end-<\/p>\n<p>Josh Finch<br \/>Headquarters, Washington<br \/>202-358-1100<br \/><a href=\"mailto:Joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov\">joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Leejay Lockhart<br \/>Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br \/>321-747-8310<br \/><a href=\"mailto:leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov\">leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div 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class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Aug 05, 2025<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Kennedy Space Center<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/partnerships\/\">Partner With Us<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/commercial-space\/\">Commercial Space<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy-space-center\/\">Kennedy Space Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/space-operations\/\">Space Operations Mission Directorate<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits. The firm-fixed-price awards comprise nine studies with a maximum total value of approximately $1.4 million. The awardees are: \u201cWith the increasing maturity of commercial space delivery capabilities, we\u2019re asking [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16109,15717,16584,15930],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-262520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-space","category-kennedy-space-center","category-partner-with-us","category-space-operations-mission-directorate"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=262520"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263405,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262520\/revisions\/263405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=262520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=262520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=262520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}