News
(Discovery News) LHC Creates Tiny Drops of Big Bang 'Blood Spatter'
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has recreated the world's tiniest droplets of a primordial state of matter that last existed moments after the Big Bang, some 13.82 billion years ago. Continue reading →
(Space Fellowship) Station Crew Wraps Up Week With Combustion Research
The trio of Expedition 36 crew members aboard the International Space Station wrapped up the workweek Friday with combustion and biological research, while three additional crew members continue preparations to join their crewmates in space in less than two weeks. Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy started his day with the Seedling Growth experiment as he harvested thale cress plants that began growing on Saturday when the cassettes containing the seedlings were hydrated by ground command. Cassid [...]
(Space Fellowship) Mars Rover Opportunity Examines Clay Clues in Rock
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's senior Mars rover, Opportunity, is driving to a new study area after a dramatic finish to 20 months on "Cape York" with examination of a rock intensely altered by water. The fractured rock, called "Esperance," provides evidence about a wet ancient environment possibly favorable for life. The mission's principal investigator, Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., said, "Esperance was so important, we committed several weeks to getting this one measureme [...]
(Commercial Space Watch) NASA Announcement for Proposals: Commerical Operation of Launch Complex 39A
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center provides notice that the Government will issue an Announcement for Proposals (AFP) seeking a qualified lessee who is capable of taking responsibility for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Launch Complex 39, Pad A (LC-39A) as a commercial launch facility.
Synopsis - May 17, 2013
General Information
Solicitation Number: AFP-KSC-LC39A
Posted Date: May 17, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: May 17, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Jun 21, 2013
Current Response Date: Jun 21, 2013
Classification Code: X -- Lease or rental of facilities
NAICS Code: 481212
Set-Aside Code:
Contracting Office Address
NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Procurement, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
Description
The following information is preliminary and subject to change.
The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), John F. Kennedy Space Center provides notice that the Government will issue an Announcement for Proposals (AFP) seeking a qualified lessee who is capable of taking responsibility for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Launch Complex 39, Pad A (LC-39A) as a commercial launch facility.
LC-39A is a potentially useful, historically significant, launch platform for a commercial company or consortium, or other U.S. domestic entity, including state agencies, to use to support commercial launch activities while assuming financial and technical responsibility for O&M. Such commercial use will protect LC-39A from deterioration resulting from non-use.
Additionally, commercial use will support NASA in fulfilling its mandate to, "seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space." 51 U.S.C. 20112(a)(4). Such use is also authorized under the Commercial Space Launch Act, 51 U.S.C. 50913(a)(1), which encourages the acquisition by the private sector and State governments of launch or reentry property of the U.S. Government that is excess or otherwise not needed for public use. NASA therefore envisions a lease with a commercial company or consortium or U.S. domestic entity that has a plan for use of LC-39A to support active launch operations, and which demonstrates the financial and business resources, as well as the technical capability and past experience, to make the fullest commercial use of LC-39A.
NASA contemplates entering into one or more lease agreements under the authority of the Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA). If a Proposer feels a different contractual relationship is more appropriate, it may so stipulate in its proposal. NASA intends to seek proposals to operate and maintain LC-39A as a commercial launch facility through an agreement or agreement(s) for a minimum of five years. Proposers who are interested in a longer term agreement should be prepared to provide the proposed length of the agreement, and rationale for the required time period beyond five years. Proposers should note that NASA will not act as the site operator for LC-39A under any lease arrangement and, therefore, Proposers will be expected to address site operation, as well as any anticipated launch operations, in their proposals.
With the completion of Shuttle retirement activities, NASA will no longer fund the maintenance of the dedicated infrastructure and systems located at LC-39A. In order to maximize the utility of the facility and avoid the deterioration that results from lack of regular maintenance, NASA intends to expedite the release of an Announcement for Proposals, with submittal of proposals due 30 days after release of the Announcement.
Proposers may indicate their interest in this announcement through submission of a non-binding letter of intent by May 24, 2013. This letter should include the following:
1) Company name, designated point of contact, and relevant contact information for same; 2) The nature of interest (i.e. exclusive user, part of multi-user consortium, site operator); 3) Type of agreement contemplated (i.e. lease under CSLA, Space Act Agreement, Enhanced Use Lease).
This letter should be submitted to the Contracting Officer Officer listed below. An electronic PDF file sumbitted by email is preferred. Potential respondents are responsible for monitoring the Internet site below for the release of the Announcement and for downloading their own copy of the Announcement and any amendments. The Internet site, or URL, for the Kennedy Space Center Business Opportunities page is: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=76
This is not a solicitation for proposals and NASA does not intend to respond to questions about this synopsis at this time. As necessary, further information will be provided as amendments to this synopsis.
Point of Contact
Name: Steven E. Parker
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 321-867-2928
Fax: 321-867-7189
Email: steve.parker@nasa.gov
(Discovery News) Venus, Jupiter and Mercury Will Dance on May 28
Later this month, three planets will gather very close in the twilight sky -- make sure you don't miss this stunning conjunction!
(ScienceDaily) Nine-year-old Mars rover passes 40-year-old record
While Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt visited Earth's moon for three days in December 1972, they drove their mission's Lunar Roving Vehicle 19.3 nautical miles (22.210 statute miles or 35.744 kilometers). That was the farthest total distance for any NASA vehicle driving on a world other than Earth until yesterday.
(Discovery News) 1998 QE2: Massive Asteroid to Make 'Royal' Flyby
A big asteroid will cruise by Earth at the end of the month, making its closest approach to our planet for at least the next two centuries.
(Space Politics) NASA operating plan may reverse Congressional increase in planetary science
NASA’s operating plan for fiscal year 2013 will reportedly reverse the increases awarded to the agency’s planetary science program by Congress, according to a report. The Planetary Exploration Newsletter (PEN) reported Wednesday that the operating plan, which details any tweaks NASA plans to make to the final FY13 appropriations passed in March, will return planetary [...]
(Commercial Space Watch) SpaceX Tests 5.2 Meter Fairing Separation Test
SpaceX released this separation test video of their on-house designed 5.2m fairing which is undergoing testing at NASA Glenn Research Center Plum Brook Station.
From SpaceX, the "fairing is used to protect a satellite during launch. Separation occurs when the rocket is traveling over 4x faster than a speeding bullet, nearly 10x the speed of sound."
(Discovery News) Opportunity Breaks NASA's 40-Year Roving Record
After nine years of hard Mars roving, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has broken a 40-year-old extraterrestrial distance record. Continue reading →