Six companies have received seven contracts from NASA to build inflatable aerodynamic decelerator systems for spacecraft entry, descent and landing operations and aerocapture missions.
The vendors will compete for task orders to design, produce and test materials, subassemblies, components, flight articles, engineering development units and concept demonstration articles, NASA said Thursday.
The IAD development contracts are divided into three technical tracks with a total performance period of 10 years.
Technical Track A has a contract ceiling of $140 million and covers the design, fabrication and testing of inflatable structures.
Technical Track B has a total value of $92 million and encompasses the design, development and testing of flexible thermal protection systems.
Contractors will design, produce and test gas generator inflation technologies under Technical Track C, which has a maximum contract value of $37 million.
Jackson Bond Enterprises received two of the total awards. Other awardees are:
- Airborne Systems North America
- Anasphere
- CFD Research
- Miller Scientific
- Ryzing Technologies
