[Satellite Today – 3-24-08] SpaceDev Inc. has been awarded a contract to develop next-generation seal technologies for instrument covers for NASA, SpaceDev announced March 24.
    Under the six-month Phase 1 Small Business Innovative Research, will perform feasibility studies for seals capable of repetitive use while maintaining integrity in abrasive environments. These technologies are intended to enhance performance and enable increased mission capabilities for future lunar operations such as rovers, robotic systems, on-site resource utilization and science experiments.
     "This contract builds upon our heritage developing cover systems and seals for important spacecraft such as the Chandra and Spitzer space telescopes," Mark Sirangelo, SpaceDev’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "Once developed, they are expected to provide a key solution set to harsh environments that presented significant operational issues during the Apollo missions. Although our initial efforts are focused on NASA’s lunar requirements, we expect these products to translate over to future Mars and terrestrial applications as well."