Keith Cowing posted an interesting notice over on SpaceRef today. Basically NASA is using authority in one bill to remove a restriction in their acquisition regulations on doing “anchor tenant” type contracts. Anchor tenancy agreements have been talked about in the past as a way of making it easier to close the business case on things like commercial propellant depots or tugs. Basically, if NASA has a need that lines up with the proposed commercial service, NASA can sign up as the first customer for several years, giving the rest of the market time to react to this service being available, in the hopes of giving the market time to grow. The rule suggests a maximum 10 year window of anchor tenancy, and a requirement for private capital to be at risk in the process, and for the anchor tenancy contracts to be Firm Fixed Price.
I think this is potentially a really positive move forward that might open the doors for commercialization of technologies that NASA is helping fund development for. Just thought I’d pass along the thoughts.
Jonathan Goff
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Thanks for noticing something positive.
You’re welcome. I’m glad I had something positive to report!
lets see,
SpaceX or some of the Google X prize folks mass produce existing science spacecraft such as the MER and Kepler,NASA is the anchor tenant for the purchase of the Data for ten years after operations commence
sovereign nations, university’s,even private citizens could purchase data.
mass production and a ten year data purchase could also smooth out the yearly science budget for many nations and university groups