The Core Spacecraft is an integral part of GPM. Carrying both a dual frequency radar instrument and a passive microwave radiometer, the Core Spacecraft will serve as a calibration standard for the other members of the GPM spacecraft constellation. Original plans called for the Core Spacecraft to be built in-house at Goddard Space Flight Center. Due to programmatic limitations, however, NASA Headquarters has instructed GPM to pursue the option of procuring the Core Spacecraft through Goddard's Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO).

RSDO offers its customers an innovative way to quickly procure spacecraft using a series of established Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with certain spacecraft vendors. With help from the RSDO team, customers use these existent IDIQ contract vehicles to quickly and easily set up study and/or development contracts with participating vendors.

Utilizing RSDO services can often save time and resources. For example, using conventional spacecraft procurement methods, it normally takes an agency approximately 12-18 months to award a development contract to a vendor, and an additional 3-5 years for the vendor to deliver the spacecraft on-orbit. RSDO customers often complete the vendor selection process and accomplish spacecraft delivery in significantly less time.

In spring 2004, GPM disseminated a Request For Information (RFI) to the RSDO vendors to determine if they had sufficient interest in providing the GPM Core Spacecraft. Three vendors (Orbital Sciences Corporation, Spectrum Astro, and Ball Aerospace) responded with cost and initial spacecraft design parameters.

Artist Rendering of the GPM Core Observatory

During the subsequent summer, GPM prepared and released a Request For Offer (RFO) to the RSDO vendors for the first GPM study (GPM Study 1). The same vendors submitted proposals to the Study 1 RFO, and GPM awarded contracts to the three companies. During this 100-day study, participating vendors performed early design work to determine how to meet the GPM Core Observatory requirements that specifically address accommodation of the GPM instruments. Results of GPM Study 1 were presented to GSFC in late November 2004. GPM anticipates that Study 2, in which two vendors will expand their concepts to the Preliminary Design Review stage, will commence in early 2005.

Stay tuned for more information as GPM continues to investigate this procurement option for its Core Spacecraft.

By Steven Horowitz

GPM Core Observatory Manager

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