NASA, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

A -- SMALL REUSABLE BOOSTER TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR (X-34) SOL NRA 8-14 POC Contact Technical Representative John W. Cole/XX01, 205-544-4290/ Contracting Officer, Mark R. Stiles/GP54, 205-544-0381, Contract Specialist, Kimberly D. Newton/GP54, 205-544-0371/4103 (fax) The X-34 Small Reusable Booster Demonstrator NRA will solicit proposals for joint government/industry efforts to design, build, integrate, and operate an experimental rocket powered flight test vehicle and associated test hardware. This project will demonstrate key reusable launch vehicle technologies through flight test experience beginning the third quarter of CY98. The X-34 project as part of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Program is intended to enable technology demonstrations in a time period, and at a performance level between the subsonic DC-XA and the sub-orbital X-33 projects. To meet this objective, the X-34 should be a reusable vehicle which can begin operation by the third quarter of CY98. The X-34 will operate as a test bed to demonstrate key reusable launch vehicle technologies which would be embedded in the basic design and construction of the vehicle and also carried as experiments or test articles on a flight by flight basis. The NRA will also provide an opportunity to propose low cost, RLV technology flight experiments for the vehicle. The X-34 must be capable of powered flight to at least 250,000 feet and should be capable of attaining Mach 8 or greater. The vehicle must be capable of at least 25 flight tests over a period of one year, autonomous flight operations, safe abort, landing in cross winds up to 20 knots and subsonic flight through rain and fog. Test results will be shared with the X-33 team. The government has an available budget of approximately $60M for this NRA. In addition, the government is willing to provide other resources including analysis, design, test, fabrication, and hardware and equipment within the capabilities and resources of the various NASA field centers. Additional data on Reusable Launch Vehicle technology to date and points of contact at the NASA Centers is available on the RLV home page address at 'http://rlv.msfc.nasa.gov'. The Government's role in any supporting design, analysis, development, or test activities should be clearly defined and negotiated with the appropriate installation and the task agreements included with the proposal. The X-34 NRA will be released in the late-March 1996 timeframe. Any award is subject to availability of funds. Proposals will be evaluated by peer and/or technical reviews after receipt of proposals. Written requests for copies of the NRA must be made to Kimberly D. Newton/GP54, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 or by electronic mail address 'kim.newton@msfc.nasa.gov'. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered. (0068)

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