From their responses SpaceDev has selected several possible launch vehicle providers. SpaceDev is currently negotiating its decision and preparing to contract with a primary and backup provider. Fixed Payloads will be supported by the NEAP bus and spacecraft systems throughout the NEAP mission. NEAP will supply these payloads with two-way communications services, electric power, limited thermal control, pointing, command and control services, data processing and storage, integration into NEAP, and launch, rendezvous, and navigation services. Ejectable Payloads are supported in an identical manner to Fixed Payloads with the added feature of being ejected from NEAP at the customer-specified time for landing on the asteroid or other purpose.
Support includes two-way telemetry contact with the Ejectable Payload.
The first instrument being built is a CMOS-based digital imaging camera in the visible spectrum, with 12 filters. The completed unit should have a mass of 2.0 kg, use less than 3 Watts power, and fit within SpaceDev's standard volume allotment. The second instrument is a neutron spectrometer being developed by William Boynton of LPL and William Feldman of Los Alamos Lab. It is similar to Dr. Feldman's design for the Lunar Prospector mission. It uses less than 1 Watt of power and is only 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 18 cm and 1 kg.