You don't bid to be 3rd place. Everyone bidding for Lane 2 is expected to have a plan to meet all of the requirements. Of course that was the case in Phase 2 also, and SpaceX had to plan for vertical integration but hasn't needed to build out the infrastructure yet.
Quote from: gongora on 07/21/2023 03:08 pmYou don't bid to be 3rd place. Everyone bidding for Lane 2 is expected to have a plan to meet all of the requirements. Of course that was the case in Phase 2 also, and SpaceX had to plan for vertical integration but hasn't needed to build out the infrastructure yet.SpaceX doesn’t have VI and ULA doesn’t have a rocket (that can fly all missions).
Quote from: deltaV on 07/19/2023 12:00 amHas anyone found the important parts of those lengthy multi-part draft RFPs? For example for lane 2 how many launches, what mass, and what orbits for the three winners?Anthony Colangelo has done some analysis:https://mainenginecutoff.com/podcast/255QuoteAfter the most recent show, I found a few nuggets of information in the NSSL Phase 3 documents, plus some more updates came out in a call that the Space Force had with some reporters.What Anthony found: 58 launches total for the 3 winners, but only 7 to the 3rd winner (5 GPS satellites and 2 direct to GSO).The remaining 51 are split 60/40 between the other 2 winners. So very heavily biased to main 2 winners, presumably to ensure a minimum number of launches per annum (the speculation being to guarantee that ULA remains in business whatever else happens in the launch market).Also although a winner does not need a current launch vehicle, they must have (successfully?) launched by 1st October 2026. Furthermore, they need an operational West Coast launch site by that date too.So, as currently written, not as beneficial to Blue Origin as some headlines might suggest.
Has anyone found the important parts of those lengthy multi-part draft RFPs? For example for lane 2 how many launches, what mass, and what orbits for the three winners?
After the most recent show, I found a few nuggets of information in the NSSL Phase 3 documents, plus some more updates came out in a call that the Space Force had with some reporters.
More launch providers are encouraged as the United States Space Force (USSF) released a second draft of a request for proposals (RFP) for the forthcoming phase three of the national security space launch (NSSL) program.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/nssl-phase-three-update/ - By Danny Lentz.The NSSL program provides most of the space launch contracts for the United States Department of Defense (DOD), including flights for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
For those curious, these are the 9 reference orbits that a rocket needs to be able to hit to be eligible to win under Lane 2 in NSSL Phase 3
Quote from: gongora on 07/22/2023 06:45 pmFor those curious, these are the 9 reference orbits that a rocket needs to be able to hit to be eligible to win under Lane 2 in NSSL Phase 3Here's the metric version.Orbit Mass (kg) Orbit (km) Inclination (°)-------------------------------------------------LEO 6,800 926 63.4Polar 1 7,030 834 98.2Polar 2 17,010 834 98.2MEO Direct 9,070 18,178 50MEO Transfer 4,080 1000x20,368 55GEO Transfer 8,160 185x35,786 27Molinya 5,220 1204x39,170 63.4GEO 1 3,630 35,786 0GEO 2 6,580 35,786 0
Can companies decline to receive a Lane 2 slot 3 award (i.e. winning just a handful of launches) or offer different prices for slot 3 and the main slots 1-2 (with 60%/40%)? I ask because for a launch provider that needs government business to close their business case a slot 3 award could be worse than no award since they'd be stuck paying the fixed costs for a launch vehicle they wish they could cancel. If this "curse of slot 3" is possible the rules should probably be changed to address it.
ULA has concerns about a third competitor in national security space launchCEO Tory Bruno: ‘It’s not competition if everybody wins’Sandra ErwinJuly 28, 2023WASHINGTON — United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said he has “a bunch of questions” about the latest changes announced by the Space Force for the procurement of national security space launch services.Speaking on the CNBC “Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan” podcast that aired July 27 […]