yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (03/11/89)
Jim Cast Headquarters, Washington, D.C. March 9, 1989 Jim Elliott Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. RELEASE: 89-29 NASA GODDARD CENTER REQUESTS COMMERCIAL LAUNCH SERVICES PROPOSALS NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., has requested proposals from commercial sources to launch three identified satellites and options for NASA to order up to 12 additional launches, if exercised, over the next 5 years. The three identified satellites for which launch services would be be procurred under the request for proposals (RFP) are the Wind, Geotail and Polar satellites of the International Solar Terrestrial Physics Projects. Their launches are scheduled in 1992 and 1993. The RFP calls for 5 of the 15 launches to be high inclination (polar) launches and the other 10 to be low inclination (equatorial). Polar launches normally are conducted from the West Coast and equatorial from the East Coast. Under the agreement, the contractor would furnish all supplies, including the launch vehicle, facilities, personnel, and services necessary to design, produce, test, integrate and launch the missions into the required orbit. The Orbital Launch Systems Project Office at Goddard will oversee the contractor activities provided under this contract. Proposals from commercial interests are to be submitted by May 8.