Conference 7.286::space

825.0. "NASA reopens reservations queue for "Get Away Specials"" by PRAGMA::GRIFFIN (Dave Griffin) Wed Oct 21 1992 14:08

HQ 92-174/GET AWAY SPECIAL RESERVATIONS REOPENED

Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.     October 20, 1992

Dolores Beasley
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Release:  92-174

     NASA today announced that the Small Self Contained Payloads (SSCP)
program, popularly known as the Get Away Special (GAS) program, is now
accepting new applications for payload reservations.

     The program offers standard canisters to customers wanting to carry out
scientific research on Shuttle flights on a space-available basis for a nominal
fee.  Since the first Get Away Special payload flew on Space Shuttle Columbia
10 years ago, 87 GAS payloads have flown on 18 missions, representing customers
from industry, educational institutions, domestic and foreign governments, as
well as from individuals.

     Reopening the reservations queue for GAS payloads follows NASA
Administrator Daniel Goldin's signing of an updated policy on small self
contained payloads.  The updated policy was published in the Federal Register
on Sept. 9.

     The announcement was made at the Shuttle Small Payloads Symposium being
held at the Sheraton Greenbelt Hotel in New Carrollton, Md. The symposium is
being sponsored by NASA's Office of Space Flight and the Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, Md.

     Under the revised policy, prices for standard services would be $27,000
for an SSCP payload weighing 200 pounds (90.72 kg) and a volume of 5 cubic feet
(.142 cubic meters), $14,000 for a payload weighing 100 pounds (45.36 kg) and a
volume of 2.5 cubic feet and $8,000 for a payload weighing 60 pounds (27.22 kg)
and a volume of 2.5 cubic feet (.071 cubic meters).  These prices compensate
for the impact of inflation from fiscal years 1975 through 1991.

     NASA soon will publish in the Federal Register a related policy whereby
domestic educational institutions will have an option to qualify for reduced
SSCP prices.  Domestic educational institutions would pay $10,000 for an SSCP
payload weighing 200 pounds and a volume of 5 cubic feet, $5,000 for a payload
weighing 100 pounds and a volume of 2.5 cubic feet and $3,000 for a payload
weighing 60 pounds and a volume of 2.5 cubic feet.

     SSCP experiments must be of a scientific research and development nature
and are flown on a space- available basis on Space Shuttle missions.  Most
recently, 9 GAS experiments from 5 countries flew on the STS-47 Spacelab J
mission in September.

     The SSCP project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Program
management is located at Headquarters' Office of Space Flight.