[11-26-07 – Satellite Today] PlanetSpace, Lockheed Martin and ATK have submitted a bid for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Project (COTS), PlanetSpace announced Nov. 22.

NASA has opened up the program to new bidders in October after terminating its agreement with Rocketplane Kistler. NASA announced that it had $174.7 million available for a new award to demonstrate the viability of alternative space transportation capabilities after the space shuttle fleet is retired.

PlanetSpace is leading the team to develop the cargo and crew delivery system. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. is developing the orbital transfer vehicle. ATK will lead the development of the launch vehicle segment and ground processing systems used for cargo delivery. ATK had been the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle.

The consortium also has signed teaming agreements with Space Florida, United Launch Alliance, Wyle Laboratories, Paragon Space and Mehta Engineering. Bank of Montreal is working with the team as financial advisor.

Space Explorations Technology (SpaceX) also received a COTS contract from NASA in August 2006 and continues work on its concept, which uses the Falcon 9 with a cargo-carrying Dragon spacecraft.