WASHINGTON — The Area Techniques Command on Oct. 31 introduced 21 release missions had been assigned to United Release Alliance and SpaceX as a part of the Nationwide Safety Area Release (NSSL) Segment 2 contract the corporations gained in 2020.
Those missions assigned for fiscal 12 months 2024 mark the 5th and ultimate 12 months of the Segment 2 contract. Of the 21 missions, ULA won 11 and SpaceX 10. Those missions are projected to release over the following two to a few years.
Over the 5 years of the Segment 2 contract, the Area Power can have ordered a complete of 48 missions — considerably greater than the 34 missions at the start estimated — despite the fact that just one has introduced thus far.
“Below our Segment 2 contract, ULA and SpaceX had been dedicated companions, and our blended workforce stays devoted to supply of essential belongings to our warfighters as we whole this segment of the NSSL program and embark on NSSL Segment 3 beginning in FY25,” stated Col. Chad Melone, senior materiel chief for challenge answers on the Area Techniques Command.
A complete of 48 missions in Segment 2
Of the 48 missions assigned for Segment 2, most effective USSF-67 introduced, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in January 2023. ULA’s first Segment 2 release can be USSF-51 on an Atlas 5 rocket, a challenge projected for no previous than March 2024.
SpaceX’s upcoming NSSL missions come with USSF-52 (awarded in 2018 and no longer a part of Segment 2) and USSF-124, a Missile Protection Company challenge that is a part of the Segment 2 contract.
ULA’s new rocket, Vulcan Centaur, was once decided on through the Area Power to release all Segment 2 missions however the automobile has been beset through delays. Vulcan’s two certification flights are scheduled within the coming months and its first NSSL Segment 2 challenge, USSF-106, would fly someday after each certification launches are finished.
ULA at the start gained 60% of the Segment 2 missions and SpaceX 40%. In keeping with those newest assignments, ULA ended up with 54% and SpaceX with 46%.
The next 11 missions had been assigned to ULA: GPS 3-9, NROL-73, NROL-56, STP-5, SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118, GPS 3F-1, NROL-100, USSF-95, NROL-109, SDA T2TL-B, and USSF-25.
The next 10 missions had been assigned to SpaceX: SDA T1TL-F, SDA T1TR-A, USSF-57, NROL-77, SDA T1TR-E, GPS 3-10, USSF-75, SDA T2TL-A, SDA T2TL-C, and USSF-70.
The NROL-77, NROL-73, NROL-56, NROL-109, and NROL-100 missions are for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace.
SDA’s launches are batches of small satellites for the Area Construction Company’s low Earth orbit constellation that features a Shipping Layer of information communications satellites and a Monitoring Layer of missile-detection sensors.
USSF-57 will release the primary of 3 multibillion-dollar Subsequent Era Overhead Chronic Infrared geostationary satellites designed for missile caution.
SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118 is a joint NRO and Area Power challenge to offer house area consciousness for DoD and the intelligence group.
USSF-25 will release the Protection Complex Analysis Tasks Company’s (DARPA) Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) nuclear thermal spacecraft.
USSF-95 would be the first release of a missile-tracking prototype satellite tv for pc in medium Earth orbit.
STP-5 is a challenge for the Area Power’s Area Take a look at Program (STP). It’s going to release two satellites in make stronger of the Division of Protection Strategic Functions Workplace.
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