NASA Funds New Studies to Develop Cheaper, More Versatile Spacecraft Delivery Systems

According to NASA, six U.S. aerospace companies have been awarded contracts to study lower-cost ways of launching and delivering spacecraft to challenging orbital destinations. The initiative aims to expand access to space for a variety of missions while reducing costs for future NASA projects. The combined nine studies carry a total value of about $1.4 million and will be completed by mid-September, with findings expected to shape future mission planning and launch acquisition strategies.

The companies selected are Arrow Science and Technology of Texas, Blue Origin of Florida, Firefly Aerospace of Texas, Impulse Space of California, Rocket Lab of California, and United Launch Services of Colorado. Their proposals will examine orbital transfer vehicles capable of delivering multiple payloads to varied orbits, including cislunar space and deep space destinations. These vehicles are designed to provide flexible mission profiles, potentially eliminating the need for extra rocket stages and reducing operational expenses.

Arrow will collaborate with Quantum Space to study a multi-destination delivery craft, while Blue Origin will focus on its Blue Ring platform and a New Glenn upper stage concept. Firefly plans to highlight its Elytra series for cislunar operations, and Impulse Space will study its Mira and Helios vehicles for rapid orbit transfers. Rocket Lab will explore adapting its Neutron rocket’s upper stage and its Explorer-based transfer vehicle, and United Launch Services will evaluate a long-duration Centaur V upper stage for direct delivery to multiple lunar orbits.

These studies were awarded under NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare Launch Services (VADR) contract, which supports the growth of the commercial launch market in the United States. If the research leads to viable designs, the resulting technology could lower mission costs for scientific and technological payloads and possibly be applied to larger and more sensitive payloads in the future.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from NASA press release 25-054.

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