SpaceDev has been awarded the second task order on its existing $43 million contract with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), to design and develop up to six responsive, affordable high-performance networked micro-satellites to support national missile defense.
The second task order of the contract is valued at approximately $8.3 million, became effective on October 1st and is expected to be completed by January 2006.
"The successful completion of the first phase of our contract positioned us for a smooth transition into the next, exciting stage of our responsive microsatellite design for the MDA," commented Jim Benson, SpaceDev's founding chairman and chief executive officer.
"Building on our proprietary CHIPSat technology, the work associated with the second phase of this contract will further enhance and define the capabilities of SpaceDev's networked cluster of formation-flying, high performance satellites, and the ability to control the mission via a laptop with Internet access."
The MDA contract is composed of four phases over five years with milestone payments based on a cost plus fixed fee arrangement. Subsequent phases pertain to fabrication, integration, testing, operation and full support during the life of the experiment.
The MDA contract calls for SpaceDev to conduct a micro satellite distributed sensing experiment with an option for a networked laser communications experiment, and other micro satellite studies and experiments as required in support of MDA's Advanced System Deputate.
The first phase consisted of a detailed mission analysis and preliminary micro satellite design that generated approximately $1.1 million of revenue for SpaceDev.
