NASA has released a draft request for proposals seeking detailed plans to move either the Space Shuttle Discovery or the Orion capsule. The agency aims to evaluate transportation feasibility within five years, emphasizing safety and budget adherence.
The draft outlines two scenarios: relocating a large aerospace vehicle akin to a shuttle orbiter or solid rocket booster, and transporting a smaller capsule like Orion or Mercury. Respondents must provide engineering analyses, preservation protocols, rigging designs, infrastructure coordination, and regulatory compliance strategies-no longer than 40 pages.
NASA is not requesting binding price offers but seeks cost estimates to inform future planning. Multimodal methods-including airlift, rail, overland heavy haul, barge, and sealift-are under consideration, with flexibility granted to proposers on execution details.