NASA Exercises Ames Intelligent Systems Research Contract Option

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. NASA has exercised Option Period #2 on the Intelligent Systems Research and Development Support (ISRDS) contract. Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies Inc., (SGT, Inc.), Greenbelt, Md., received the option award to continue to support intelligent systems research at the agency's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

The option period has a maximum value of $60 million. This is a cost plus fixed fee contract. The exercised option will continue performance from Sept. 29, 2011, to Sept. 28, 2012. The contract consists of a three-year base period and three, one-year options.

The company will provide all resources, other than those identified as provided by the government, as necessary to support scientific research, develop technologies, build applications, infuse and deploy advanced information systems technology at Ames.

The company also will provide research support in artificial intelligence, knowledge-based systems, knowledge discovery, data mining, soft computing (including neural networks and fuzzy control methods), nanotechnology information processing and sensors.

The contractor will provide research support for biologically inspired computer systems and human extensions; prognostic signal analysis; model-based diagnostic reasoning; software fault diagnostic and automated software methodologies; fault-tolerant computing hardware and networking.

In addition it will provide tele-presence/control of remote, mobile platforms; autonomous and adaptive control; integrated design; human-centered computing; system design of a distributed heterogeneous network of workstations; distribution of research information in various formats and forums.

Station Crew Launches Aboard Soyuz

Three new Expedition 28 flight engineers -- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa -- launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft at 4:12 p.m. EDT on June 7 (2:12 a.m. July 8, Baikonur time) to begin a two-day journey to the International Space Station.

The Soyuz spacecraft, under the command of Volkov, will dock to the Rassvet module on the Earth-facing side of the station at 5:22 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. After hatch opening, the trio will be welcomed aboard by their Expedition 28 crewmates, Commander Andrey Borisenko and Flight Engineers Alexander Samokutyaev and Ron Garan.

The six-person crew will continue the uninterrupted presence of humans on the station since Nov. 2, 2000, conducting expanded scientific research and station maintenance activities.

The station residents also will welcome the crew of the last space shuttle flight, Atlantis' STS-135 mission, targeted to launch July 8. The shuttle will deliver critical supplies in the Italian-built Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module and support spacewalks by Fossum and Garan to retrieve a failed cooling system pump module, which Atlantis will return to Earth for analysis.

Garan, Borisenko and Samokutyaev, who launched to the station April 4, will return to Earth in September. Before departing, Borisenko will hand over command of the station to Fossum for Expedition 29, which begins when the Soyuz TMA-21 undocks.