Jan. 29, 2009

Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761
sonja.r.alexander{at}nasa.gov
RELEASE: 09-023

NASA SEEKS TECHNOLOGIES FOR TESTING DURING REDUCED GRAVITY FLIGHTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is looking for new technologies that have
potential
use in future agency projects which could benefit from testing during
flights on an airplane that simulates the weightless conditions of
space. The technologies may improve air and space vehicle
capabilities and support future systems used in space exploration.

NASA's Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology
Development and Training, or FAST, program helps emerging
technologies mature through testing in a reduced gravity environment.
To prepare technologies for space applications, it is important to
demonstrate they work in a zero-gravity environment. This unique
testing environment can be provided in an aircraft flying repeated
parabolic trajectories which create brief periods of zero gravity.
The aircraft also can simulate reduced-gravity levels similar to
those found on the surface of the moon or Mars.

The testing opportunities are being offered to U.S. companies,
individuals, academic or research institutions, or government
agencies. Through a partnership agreement, NASA will provide free
flight time for the tests while project teams will be responsible for
all other expenses. Proposals are due by March 20. Flights to
demonstrate the technologies will be conducted in August 2009 from
Ellington Field in Houston. NASA expects to select at least 20
projects for this round of test flights, pending availability of
funding.

Initial reduced-gravity tests with small businesses developing
technologies for NASA were conducted in September 2008. Those tests
validated the FAST concept and paved the way for this broader
opportunity for all U.S. organizations developing technology NASA may
need. In the future, the FAST program expects to provide more
extensive technology testing opportunities, with suborbital flights
as well as orbital flights, when such commercial services become
available.

NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters in
Washington manages the FAST program. The Reduced Gravity Office at
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is providing test management
for the flights. NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is
providing technical assistance to the FAST program.

For more information about FAST, visit:

http://ipp.nasa.gov/ii_fast.htm

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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