Q: What's the catch?
A: There is no catch! This is a NASA funded program that strives to transfer technology from the space program to small businesses. By doing so, NASA recognizes that programs like SATOP help to spur economic development and growth. If you feel that SATOP was able to add significant value to your business, we would encourage you to write a letter to your local congressional representative and send a copy to SATOP. This will help to ensure the continued success of the program.
Q: What do I have to do to work with SATOP?
A: Complete the Request for Technical Assistance via the SATOP website. A Project Engineer will contact you within one week to review your request. Once an Space Alliance Partner is identified to assist with your request, you will be provided with their contact information. Please keep in mind that your continued involvement with the request will result in a greater likelihood of achieving a successful and timely resolution.
Q: What is a Space Alliance Partner?
A: Space Alliance Partners are companies, colleges, universities and laboratories that have a connection with NASA and have agreed to provide technical expertise in support of the SATOP program.
Q: How do I submit a Request for Technical Assistance?
A: Requests can be submitted via the website at: www.SpaceTechSolutions.com or by contacting one of the SATOP centers for a form that can be submitted via fax.
Q: Where are the SATOP Centers located?
A: Titusville, Florida; Syracuse, New York; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Houston, Texas.
Q: If I live in a State other than that where SATOP Centers are located, can I still submit a Request for Technical Assistance?
A: Yes, SATOP supports requests from the entire United States.
Q: Will SATOP support requests from International companies?
A: Only if the International company has a licensed business operation within the United States.
Q: Do I have to be an aerospace or high tech company to submit a request?
A: No, not at all. SATOP is for any business facing any type of technical challenge that meets the program guidelines.
Q: Can you help get my network / e-mail / internet to work?
A: Such requests are easily and readily available in the commercial sector, therefore, they fall outside the scope of the SATOP program.
Q: Will SATOP work on multiple requests from the same requestor at the same time?
A: No, SATOP will only work on one request at a time. Once a request is Closed, the requestor is welcome to submit additional requests, however, there is no guarantee that the same engineer will assist on your new request.
Q: Will an engineer visit my company?
A: SATOP is a free program built on a model of efficiency that relies on telephone, fax, email and U.S. mail to process requests for assistance. By doing so, this allows us to solve most requests within 90 days.
Q: Am I free to contact the Space Alliance Partner engineer once the RTA is Placed/Accepted?
A: Yes, unless special circumstances exist. In these rare cases, the SATOP Project Engineer assigned to the request will facilitate the communication for you.
Q: Am I guaranteed that my Request for Technical assistance will be resolved to my satisfaction?
A: SATOP strives very hard to solve all requests to the full satisfaction of the requestor. However, there are a number of reasons that a request may not be resolved. They are: 1) if the request does not meet the guidelines of the program; 2) if the expertise needed does not exist or is not readily available within our established partnerships; 3) if the requestor fails to communicate with or provide necessary information to the engineers and; 4)even though we have some of the top technical minds in the country, there is no guarantee they can solve every request.
Q: What constitutes an "Out of Scope" request?
A: 1) if the request focuses on a project, rather than a specific task or issue; 2) if the solution is readily available within the private sector (SATOP believes it is very important not to compete with the private sector, since we are striving to help those within the private sector); 3) if the expertise needed does not exist or is not readily available within our established partnerships; 4) if the request does not appear to be solvable within the 40 hours of engineering time; 5) if the request is conceptual in nature, but the requestor lacks the applicable, drawings, pictures, prototypes, etc., necessary to define the request fully.
Q: What if my Request for Technical Assistance is accepted and once in progress, it is determined that the request will take longer than 40 hours to resolve?
A: Every attempt is made to accurately determine the amount of effort required to resolve requests and to keep requests within the 40 hours for resolution.
