The Air Force on Monday awarded three more contracts under the Booster Propulsion Technology Maturation broad agency announcement (BAA) solicitation, according to a notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities (FBO).
Tanner Research received a $902,507 contract, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Whiting School of Engineering received $935,696 and Moog [MOG] received $728,337. The first contract, worth $545,860, was awarded Nov. 4 to JHU Whiting School.
Tanner Research’s contract is for “solid rocket motor ignition system with a built in test” to develop an ignition system that can simplify detection of defective solid. JHU’s award is for “performance sensitivity of rocket engine cooling channels” to address industry knowledge gaps in propellant characteristics to enable liquid natural gas/methane booster engine development. Moog’s contract is for “non-destructive evaluation, standards and testing” to develop additive manufacturing technology for propellant control valves for use in a wide range of liquid engine systems.
The contracts support technology maturation and risk reduction for rocket propulsion system development as part of a comprehensive Air Force plan to transition off the Russian-developed RD-180 engine used on the Atlas V rocket. The Air Force was unable to respond to requests for comment by press time.