FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the catch?
There is no catch! This is a State of Texas funded program that strives to transfer technology from the U.S. Space Program to small businesses.
What do businesses have to do to work with SATOP?
Complete the Request for Technical Assistance.
Submitted via the Web site at www.spacetechsolutions.com/bahep
What is a SATOP Alliance Partner?
Alliance Partners are companies, colleges, and laboratories that are affiliated with NASA-Johnson Space Center programs.
Will SATOP support requests from international companies located in Texas?
Only if the international company has a licensed business operation within the state of Texas.
Do businesses have to be an aerospace or high tech company to submit a request?
No, SATOP is for any business.
Can you help get someone’s network / e-mail / internet to work?
No, they fall outside the scope of the SATOP program.
Will SATOP work on multiple requests from the same requestor at the same time?
No.
Is the business free to contact the Space Alliance Partner engineer once the RTA is placed/accepted?
A SATOP project engineer will facilitate the initial contact between the AP engineer and the requestor.
Is the business guaranteed that its Request for Technical Assistance will be resolved to its satisfaction?
No, there are a number of reasons that a request may not be resolved, but SATOP will work to provide the best assistance as possible.
What constitutes an “out of scope” request?
- Request focuses on a project instead of one specific challenge.
- Solution is available within the private sector.
- Expertise does not exist or is not available.
- Request does not appear to be solvable within the 40 hours.
- Request is conceptual and lacks drawings, pictures, prototypes, patents.
What if a Request for Technical Assistance is accepted and once in progress it is determined that the request will take longer than 40 hours to resolve?
Every attempt is made to keep requests within the 40 hours.
Who decides if a request is suitable?
The project engineer who receives the request.
If a request requires expertise that does not exist within SATOP’s Space Alliance Partners, will the request automatically be denied?
No, SATOP will pursue other avenues of resolution, including referrals.
Does SATOP profit from working on my Requests for Technical Assistance?
No.
Can businesses obtain NASA contracts through SATOP?
No.
Will SATOP agree to sign confidentiality agreements and/or non-disclosure agreements?
No.
How will existing intellectual property be protected?
Requestors are required to agree to a disclaimer and waiver of rights provision that reads: "The SATOP centers will work to ensure that all proprietary information submitted by the requestor will not be disclosed, other than to effectively work on the request or as required by law."