The contracts, worth up to US$1.4 million (approximately AU$2.1 million), will fund nine feasibility studies into orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) – spacecraft designed to manoeuvre payloads between orbits after their initial launch. The studies are set for completion by mid-September 2025.
The selected companies are:
- Arrow Science and Technology, Texas
- Blue Origin, Florida
- Firefly Aerospace, Texas
- Impulse Space, California
- Rocket Lab, California
- United Launch Services (United Launch Alliance), Colorado
“With commercial in-space delivery capabilities advancing rapidly, we’re asking industry to show how they can support NASA’s need for delivering multiple spacecraft to complex orbits beyond what’s currently possible,” said Joe Dant, OTV strategic lead for NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“These solutions could unlock new science opportunities while reducing mission costs,” Dant added.
Arrow Science and Technology is teaming with Quantum Space to study the use of the Ranger spacecraft, a multi-mission platform capable of agile, multi-destination payload delivery from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to lunar orbit.
Blue Origin is conducting two studies: one on the Blue Ring platform, a large, high-mobility vehicle equipped for hosting, computing and end-to-end mission operations across a wide range of destinations; and another focused on the New Glenn upper stage.
Firefly Aerospace is evaluating its Elytra series of orbital vehicles, including Elytra Dark, designed for long-duration operations in lunar orbit. The line offers imaging, communications and on-demand delivery across cislunar space.
Impulse Space will also conduct two studies. The Mira vehicle offers high-thrust, high-agility payload hosting and deployment, while Helios is a powerful kick stage designed to transport payloads from LEO to medium-Earth orbit, geostationary orbit and beyond.
Rocket Lab will study the Neutron rocket’s upper stage and a long-life OTV based on its Explorer spacecraft. Both are equipped with in-space propulsion, suited to missions into deep space, including to the moon, Mars and near-Earth asteroids.
United Launch Alliance will assess the potential of an extended-duration Centaur V upper stage to deliver rideshare payloads directly to multiple destinations in cislunar space – without the need for additional rocket stages or separate OTVs.
NASA will use the outcomes of the studies to inform future mission planning and commercial launch procurement strategies. While the initial focus is on risk-tolerant payloads, there is potential for the findings to support more complex, higher-value missions down the line.
The awards were made under NASA’s VADR (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contract framework, which supports emerging commercial launch providers and expands affordable access to space for science and technology missions.
The OTV studies come as part of NASA’s broader effort to encourage innovation in the commercial space sector and enhance mission flexibility in an era of increasingly diverse orbital requirements.