Space Launch Grants

Here’s some more about the five companies getting grants today:  Blue Origin, located in Kent, Washington, is developing New Shepard, a rocket-propelled vehicle designed to routinely fly multiple astronauts into space and to offer frequent opportunities for researchers to fly experiments in space and microgravity. Blue Origin will receive $3.7 million for risk mitigation activities related to development of its “pusher” Launch Escape System and to produce a composite crew module for structural testing.  The Space Exploration division of The Boeing Company, headquartered in Houston, has been involved in the development of new spacecraft systems including the X-15, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, space shuttle and International Space Station. Boeing will receive $18 million to develop its space transportation system, which includes a seven-person crew capsule that may launch on medium class expendable launch vehicles.  Paragon Space Development Corporation is a woman-owned small business headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Paragon has directly supported with spaceflight hardware more than 70 successful spaceflight missions involving the International Space Station, the Mir space station, the space shuttle and Soyuz. They will receive $1.4 million for a development unit of an Environment Control and Life Support Air Revitalization System.  Sierra Nevada Corporation, of Centennial, Colorado, manufactures satellites, spacecraft components, and rocket propulsion systems. The company will receive $20 million to further develop its space transportation system, including the Dream Chaser seven-person spacecraft to be launched on an Atlas V 402 vehicle.  United Launch Alliance, located in Colorado, is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corporation and The Boeing Company. ULA launches the Atlas and Delta expendable launch vehicle families and will receive $6.7 million for an Emergency Detection System to monitor vehicle health of Atlas V and Delta IV rockets.