Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 495
The first JEA signed in 1980 involved McDonnell Douglas and OrthoPharmaceuticals
in a project titled continuous flow electrophoresis which promises higher quantities and
quality of certain pharmaceuticals produced in space. Successful experiments have been
conducted on several Shuttle flights. A JEA for the purpose of producing Galium [sic]
Arsenide crystals in space was signed between NASA and Micro Gravity Research
Associates in 1983. Other MPS JEA’s are under consideration.
An example of JEA extending outside the MPS area is the recent NASA-Fairchild JEA
concerning the development of a space platform for lease. Other proposed JEA’s deal with
development of Shuttle payload carriers.
c. Technical Exchange Agreements. For companies interested in applying microgravity
technology, but not ready to commit to a specific space flight experiment or venture,
NASA has developed the Technical Exchange Agreement (TEA). Under a TEA,
NASA and a company agree to exchange technical information and cooperate in the conduct
and analysis of ground-based research programs. In this agreement, a firm can
become familiar with microgravity technology and its applicability to the company product
line at minimal expense. Under TEA, the private company funds its own participation,
and derives direct access to and results from NASA facilities and research, with NASA gaining
the support and expertise of the private company’s industrial research capability.
Several MPS TEAs have been signed and others are proposed. NASA has provided
microgravity drop tube use and aircraft flights, among other facilities, to support these
efforts.
d. Industrial Guest Investigators. In an Industrial Guest Investigator (IGI)
Agreement NASA and industry share sufficient mutual scientific interest that a company
arranges for one of its scientists to collaborate (at company expense) with a NASA-sponsored
principal investigator on a space flight MPS experiment. Once the parties agree to
the contribution to be made to the objectives of the experiment, the IGI becomes a member
of the investigation team, thus adding industrial expertise and insight to the experiment.
A number of IGI agreements have been undertaken.
e. Commercial Launch Vehicles.
(1) Commercialization of NASA ELV Systems. Because of the nation’s commitment
to the reusable Space Shuttle both NASA and the Department of Defense plan to
terminate use of expendable launch vehicles. In May 1983 the President decided that the
private sector should be given the opportunity to operate these systems on a commercial
basis. NASA is in the process of exploring ways to transfer the production and operation
of its ELV systems to the private sector. By transferring these systems it is hoped that the
existing production and launch facilities will remain a valuable national resource rather
than be reduced to scrap but that government will be relieved of the cost of maintaining
a redundant launch system. Transfer will require termination of various procurement contracts
and execution of multi-faceted facility use agreements.
(2) Privately Developed Launch Vehicles. NASA personnel provided advice and
guidance to Space Services, Inc. (SSI) in its attempts to develop a space rocket. In 1982
SSI successfully launched a sub-orbital rocket to demonstrate the ability of a private company
in this field. Pursuant to a cooperative agreement, NASA provided the rocket motor
for SSI’s demonstration flight. It is believed that this demonstration generated great interest
in the private operations of space launch vehicles and support system. SSI is continuing
to develop a low cost orbital launch vehicle which will have slightly greater capability
than NASA’s Scout vehicle. SSI has requested NASA to agree not to restart Scout production
or otherwise compete in the low weight, low earth-orbit commercial market.