Micro-electronics Research Development Corp. (Micro-RDC) in Colorado Springs, CO received a $6.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to design and develop plug-and-play and responsive space components, systems, and process to enable the ‘six-day’ satellite. Micro-RDC, whose specialty is the design, testing, and mitigation of radiation effects on transistors, circuits, and systems (a constant issue in space), will lead technical and program efforts with the help of subcontractors at the Air Force Research Laboratory. At this time, $50,000 has been obligated; work will be complete June 2010. The Headquarters Air Force Research Laboratory in Kirtland Air Force Base, NM issued the contract (FA9453-07-C-0179).
This contract is part of the USA’s “operationally responsive space” effort. The Pentagon’s vanished Office of Force Transformation described the concept this way:
“USA’s B-2 Bombers Leading the Way in Contracting for Availability” described the new support arrangements for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which has historically had availability rates that hovered around 50%. Since there are only 21 of these aircraft in existence, that simple logistics change is likely to have major consequences for American power projection capabilities.
Alongside its new maintenance arrangements, the US government is also implementing aircraft upgrades to these rare and expensive systems…
So what’s the scandal? And is there really a murder involved? Yes, there is. The scandal is described in brief below, and Swiss authorities have just handed $34 million back – with conditions attached.
