ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9492
Open Date: 20/07/2018
Closing Date: 07/09/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.139.02
Prog. Ref.: ExPeRT DSH
Budget Ref.: E/0116-21M – ExPeRT DSH
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+PT+GR+CZ+RO+PL+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Orbital Transportation & Re-entry Systems / Structures / Other
Techology Domains: Structures / Advanced Structural Concepts and Materials / Design and Verification Technologies
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Dir of Human & Robotic Exploration Prog.
Department: Exploration Group
Contract Officer: Graziano, Patrizio
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 20/07/2018
Update Reason: Tender issue

As part of discussions between CMSA/ESA on cooperation on the CSS, 3 Working Groups (WGs) have been established to identify and develop cooperation topics in the Astronaut, Infrastructure and Utilisation areas. In the area of the Infrastructure WG, starting from the design of an ISS rack, an evolved light secondary structure design was studied in order to accommodate approximately 500 kg of equipment using less than 1/3rd of the equivalent ISS rack mass. This activity was performed by TAS-I as an evolution of the EDR Mk II rack design and resulted in very promising results with respect to launch mass savings. The proposed design included use of composite honeycomb panels, putruded beams and used of structural foams. As a result, CMSA has asked ESA to continue in the definition of the secondary structure of CSS EM1 EVA airlock.Within export control/ITAR constraints, the activity will consist in providing technical support to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), in charge of the development of the CSS on behalf of CMSA. This initial phase will consist only of remote technical support in the area of the lightweight secondary structure by CAST, derivation of testplans and finalisation of test reports, in close cooperation with CAST. Manufacturing and testing of the initial test articles willbe done by CAST. ESA may provide small test items for technical evaluation.In the course of 2018 and 2019 ESA will further coordinate with CMSA in order to define a proposal for cooperation on the CSS with the objective of obtaining flight and utilisation opportunities. Depending on its maturity, a proposal may be presented as part of the E3P Programme Proposal for Period 2 for CM19.

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