Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                   January 24, 1990 
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

Kari Fluegel
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)


RELEASE:  90-12

PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR SATELLITE SERVICER FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION


     NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, has issued a call for 
proposals for requirement definition studies and preliminary 
design for a Satellite Servicer System flight demonstration.

     The Satellite Servicer System flight demonstration will show 
the ability to maintain satellites in locations not readily 
accessible to humans (e.g., polar and high inclination orbits), 
to permit hazardous servicing, to reduce Space Transportation 
System extravehicular activity dependency and to improve cost 
efficiencies.

     The system will be used in a three-phase, on-orbit flight 
demonstration launched from the Space Shuttle orbiter. The 
demonstration will exercise autonomous rendezvous and docking, 
orbital replacement unit exchange and fluid transfer 
capabilities, and will use existing technologies, including the 
Orbital Manuevering Vehicle and elements of the Flight 
Telerobotic Servicer, to minimize costs and reduce technical 
risks.

     The flight demonstration Phase B studies, estimated at $1.3 
million each, will include the design and definition of the 
servicer system, a target vehicle, and ground and on-orbit 
control stations.  Two firm, fixed-price, Phase B contracts, with 
a 12-month period of performance, are expected to be awarded this 
summer.  Responses to the request for proposals, released Jan. 
19, are due March 5.

     Phase B project managment resides at JSC's New Initiatives 
Office, Satellite Servicing Project Office.

                            - end -


TO:  MDS/PRA Group
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DATE & TIME:  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1990

ORDERED BY:  Edward Campion
NASA Headquarters/LMD
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PROJECT TITLE:  Release No:  90-12

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