NASA, Johnson Space Center, BE13, Houston, TX

25 -- AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR IMPACT ATTENUATION OF A SPACECRAFT PROTOTYPE. SOL 9BE13130539P POC Request solicitation from BD35 /Bid Board, phone 713-483-4511. Contact:YOLANDE HARDEN, Tel:713-483-9953 Contracting Officer: YOLANDE HARDEN, Tel:713-483-9953 NASA Johnson Space Center is conducting a survey to identify potential sources for the acquisition of an airbag system for impact attenuation of a spacecraft prototype. Such a system is being considered for use on the X-35 spacecraft. The airbag system will be drop tested at a NASA or vendor facility and evaluated based on the following: reduction of g loads to ensure human crew survival, reduction/elimination of vehicle rollover, resistance to the high temperature surface of the spacecraft. Due to schedule constraints, vendors who have existing designs or an existing product which is compatible or which could be easily modified for compatibility with these requirements are preferred. It is the intention of the Government to award purchase orders to the 3 lowest bidders for fabrication of an airbag system to support the drop test. These 3 airbag systems will be evaluated by drop test for a possible procurement for the design, engineering, and fabrication of of the X-35 airbag system. Interested vendors may reply to D.N. McKinnis, Mail Code EP5, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 by July 5, 1995. This is not a formal request for proposals. --The airbag system will be required to attenuate impact of the prototype on the ground provided the following test conditions: spacecraft prototype weight is 15,000 lbs; vertical velocity is 10 feet per second; horizontal velocity is 30 feet per second. The airbag system must be attachable to the spacecraft prototype to support testing. Vehicle shape is known and can be provided in paper or electronic format. --System delivery required by January 1996. (0180)

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