ASRC Aerospace Selected for Research and Development Project Supporting NASA Kennedy Space Center's Human and Robotic Technology

Business Wire, Dec 13, 2004

GREENBELT, Md. -- ASRC Aerospace Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, with its primary business office in Greenbelt, Maryland, will provide primary technical Research & Development support to NASA on a new project entitled "Next Generation Wiring Materials". This four-year project was recently selected for funding by NASA's Human and Robotic Technology (H&RT) 2004 Extramural Call for Proposals. The roles of principal investigator and project management reside with ASRC Aerospace at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Other team members involved in the proposal include NASA Kennedy Space Center, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory.

"ASRC Aerospace holds the University-Affiliated Spaceport Technology Development Contract (USTDC), NASA's largest research and technology contract at Kennedy Space Center. We at ASRC are proud to be one of the small businesses selected to perform basic research on a part of NASA's Exploration Program. Interestingly, this wiring materials research could have broad applications over the nations space and aeronautical businesses." said Jim Madewell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for ASRC Aerospace Corporation.

Towards meeting project goals, the team plans to research and develop advanced, high-performance wiring insulation and the next generation of conductor materials that are light in weight, small, tough and durable, and have the thermal and radiation tolerances needed for safe and reliable space exploration systems and habitats. Modular and self-configuring wiring systems will also be explored as part of the effort.

The Next Generation Wiring Materials will support the development of space vehicles, robots, and habitats that are reusable, modular, as safe as is reasonably achievable, and reconfigurable. The project will examine and provide solutions to the deficiencies found in existing wiring technologies and meet H&RT sustainability objectives by being affordable, flexible, safe/reliable, and effective.