Pittsburgh-based space exploration company Astrobotic recently was awarded three contracts totaling $17.5 million.
“Each of these awards reinforces Astrobotic’s position as a trusted partner in reusable rockets,” John Thornton, Astrobotic CEO, said. “We are building a family of vehicles that can test technologies quickly, safely, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional programs. This work can accelerate innovation across the space industry.”
The U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory for a Small Business Innovation Research awarded the company a contract worth approximately $1.9 million. Under the contract, Astrobotic will design and build a fully reusable suborbital hover rocket developed to flight test rotating detonation rocket engines and other small rocket engines.
NASA awarded the company a Phase III SBIR contract valued at $1.6 million for the development, integration, and flight qualification of an upgraded variant of a rocket for entry, descent, and landing testing.
NASA also awarded the company a SBIR Phase III contract totaling $14 million for upgrades to the Xogdor reusable rocket, advancing it to the Block 1B suborbital variant. The new configuration will include suborbital space access above 62.1 miles, microgravity testing, and supersonic flight.
Astrobotic has conducted more than 625 reusable rocket flights of five vehicles.