NASA has awarded Columbus Technologies and Services Inc. a contract valued at $1.1 billion to provide electrical and electronic engineering support at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract spans five years, starting April 9, and will assist various divisions in developing space flight, airborne, and ground system hardware.
In parallel, NASA is set to demonstrate its Radiation Tolerant Computer (RadPC) technology on a lunar mission under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The RadPC, developed by Montana State University, aims to recover from faults caused by ionizing radiation, enhancing the reliability of onboard computers critical for space exploration. The computer will be transported to the moon by Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost 1 lander, equipped with dosimeters to measure radiation levels during its journey.
Additionally, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched LignoSat, a wooden satellite, from the International Space Station. This CubeSat aims to explore the feasibility of using wood in satellite construction, potentially offering sustainable alternatives to traditional materials. Researchers will monitor the wood's response to space conditions, including temperature and radiation, to assess its viability for future applications.