On April 18th, 2023, a Joint Venture of Houston based space exploration company Intuitive Machines and KBR, a renowned engineering and construction company known as Space and Technology Solutions (STS), was awarded 719 million dollars contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
This is a “cost-plus-fixed-fee” and “indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity” contract that aims to support and upgrade NASA’s joint polar satellite system (JPSS) and encourage space exploration missions.
Read the complete story below to learn more about the contract and its terms, as well as its role in advancing orbital services.
Project JPSS: Collaborative Effort of NOAA and NASA to Provide Global Weather Data Stream
Space and Technology Solutions has been appointed to support NASA’S joint polar satellite system (JPSS), a program managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that offers crucial global observations to support short- and long-term weather forecasts, including those linked to extreme weather events.
The program is made up of a group of five satellites, including the presently operating Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, NOAA-20 (formerly known as JPSS-1), NOAA-21 (formerly known as JPSS-2), and two forthcoming satellites, JPSS-3, and JPSS-4.
Each satellite of the JPSS fleet carries a minimum of four sophisticated instruments that evaluate different features of the Earth's environment. These instruments include the advanced technology microwave sounder (ATMS), the cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS), the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS), and the ozone mapping and profiler suite (OMPS).
The JPSS satellites travel from pole to pole around the Earth and cross the equator roughly 14 times per day in the afternoon orbit, offering comprehensive worldwide coverage twice daily.
Furthermore, JPSS satellites also play a vital role in identifying and monitoring environmental risks such as droughts, forest fires, poor air quality, and hazardous coastal waters.
The Contract
The contract has a five-year base performance period that focuses on the development of advanced technology required to support the emerging orbital servicing market. This market involves the maintenance, repair, and refueling of satellites and spacecraft in orbit, which could significantly reduce the cost and time required for space missions.
The increasing requirement for orbital servicing has led to public and commercial demand for sub-orbital testing services, with a growing interest pattern in testing new technologies in the near-space environment.
Moreover, the support of government agencies such as NASA is an additional boost for these space endeavors, which is driving growth in the market.
According to data insights from BIS Research, the global sub-orbital testing services market is estimated to reach $178.1 million in 2032 from $122.4 million in 2022, at a CAGR of 3.82% during the forecast period 2022-2032.
Steve Altemus, Chief Executive Officer of Intuitive Machines, said in a press release, “Humanity’s advancement into the solar system is built upon more than a decade of innovation under NASA’s OMES contract, and Intuitive Machines intends to continue that legacy.”
The joint venture, STS, would be subjected to NASA’s OMES III principal purpose, which is to support the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD). It is scheduled to begin operations on July 1st, 2023.
Altemus added that the contract is “a win of strategic importance that would allow Intuitive Machines to support NASA in designing, developing, and demonstrating critical technology required to support the emerging orbital servicing market, and a validation of the Company’s experience in spacecraft development, autonomous systems, and near-space communications.”
Moreover, the contract offers opportunities for partnerships between countries, the sharing of resources, and the pooling of expertise, which could have a significant impact on the growth and advancement of the space industry.
Conclusion
The future of orbital servicing looks profitable as the world recognizes the importance of maintaining and extending the lifespan of satellites and other space assets as initiatives to reduce space debris.
Moreover, the development of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence will allow for more efficient and cost-effective orbital servicing missions.
The emergence of private space companies and partnerships between public and private entities, such as KBR and Intuitive Machines, and NASA, will help to spur innovation and drive down costs.
As the demand for reliable and sustainable space services continues to grow, we can expect to see significant advancements in the field of orbital servicing in the years to come.
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