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Boeing to lead team in development of spacecraft power system for DARPA |
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 |
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The Boeing Company is to lead a team charged with developing a revolutionary spacecraft power system for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The project, a $15.5 million (£9.5 million) cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, is currently at Phase 2 of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program.
It is hoped the team can develop the foundations for a self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft able to perform ultra-high-power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions.
Tom Kessler, FAST program manager, Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems, said: "Our team is pleased to partner with DARPA in developing this powerful new technology.
"FAST offers significant cost and performance benefits to our commercial, civil and national security customers, including new high-power applications to provide a cost-effective means for spacecraft to travel to the outer solar system."
DARPA's FAST program, aiming to develop a new, ultra-lightweight High Power Generation System (HPGS) that can generate up to 175 kilowatts, achieved 130 kilowatts in Phase 1.
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