Extra $11 billion to fund huge leap in Space Force launches
The service now expects 170 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launches between 2025-2034, up from 60.
The service now expects 170 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launches between 2025-2034, up from 60.
Among the near-term launches most likely to be delayed or shifted are those of the Space Force WGS-11 communications satellite slated to lift off by the end of March, and the Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellite
"We're still in the initial phases of that investigation, so we'll continue to to work with the United Launch Alliance and their suppliers to make sure we've got the right level of insight and understand where that investigation is headed," Col. Eric Zarybnisky said.
The company's announcement did not explain how the new National Security Group would change, if at all, Blue Origin's current organization and/or practices under its national security unit headed since August by Tom Martin.
"My work here is now complete and I will be cheering ULA on," the longtime ULA chief said.
SpaceX was assigned seven NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches under a contract worth $714 million; ULA two launches worth $428 million.
Vulcan's heaviest version, which will use six solid rocket motors, still awaits Space Force certification.
There are a lot of hopes within DoD and the Space Force for Project Kuiper's success, with officials seeing the constellation as offering diversity beyond Starlink in the supplier base for so-called proliferated LEO services.
While the number of launches contracted to Blue Origin is small, the award represents a vote of confidence for the company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.
With that thumbs up from Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space program office in hand, ULA now is the second fully certified launch provider, along with SpaceX, cleared under the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno separately told reporters his firm identified a "manufacturing" error as the cause of an anomaly in its latest certification launch.
Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, Space Force acquisition leader for assured access to space, said her focus going forward is "resiliency" across her portfolio, which includes launch vehicles, range infrastructure and capacity, and base security.
Service leaders see the launch vehicle as a future competitor to SpaceX's Falcon series rockets that currently have a lock on the most critical launches under the Defense Department's National Security Space Launch program.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno expressed confidence that the Vulcan Centaur would be able to loft its two manifested launches scheduled for early next year for the National Security Space Launch program.