QuoteUnited Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a $354,811,947 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 satellites to their intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness, mission unique activities, and mission unique options for the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 missions. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Decatur, Alabama; and Cape Canaveral, Florida, and is expected to be complete by June 2020; and March 2020, respectively. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funding in the amount of $354,811,947 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0002). Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $290,594,130 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the GPS III to its intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness and mission unique activities for a GPS III mission, with options for two additional GPS III launch services. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Air Force Space Station, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement funding in the amount of $96,937,905 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0001).https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1466539//
United Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a $354,811,947 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 satellites to their intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness, mission unique activities, and mission unique options for the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 missions. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Decatur, Alabama; and Cape Canaveral, Florida, and is expected to be complete by June 2020; and March 2020, respectively. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funding in the amount of $354,811,947 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0002). Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $290,594,130 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the GPS III to its intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness and mission unique activities for a GPS III mission, with options for two additional GPS III launch services. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Air Force Space Station, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement funding in the amount of $96,937,905 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0001).
QuoteBill Wrobel, director of NASA Wallops, says the next Antares launch from there is currently scheduled for May 9. #Goddard18https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/974277981739847680
Bill Wrobel, director of NASA Wallops, says the next Antares launch from there is currently scheduled for May 9. #Goddard18
I'm kinda expecting those GPS launches to slip to the right, but I'll use their dates for now.
[Spaceflight Now] U.S. Air Force divides new launch contracts between SpaceX, ULAQuoteWith the latest contract awards, SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets are slated to launch five of the Air Force’s first six new GPS 3-series navigation satellites, beginning as soon as September with the launch of the GPS 3-1 spacecraft. The second GPS 3 satellite is set for launch on a Falcon 9 booster no earlier than March 2019, followed by the launch of the GPS 3-3 satellite later next year on a ULA Delta 4 rocket.
With the latest contract awards, SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets are slated to launch five of the Air Force’s first six new GPS 3-series navigation satellites, beginning as soon as September with the launch of the GPS 3-1 spacecraft. The second GPS 3 satellite is set for launch on a Falcon 9 booster no earlier than March 2019, followed by the launch of the GPS 3-3 satellite later next year on a ULA Delta 4 rocket.
Michael Baylor @nextspaceflightUpcoming boosters for #SpaceX missions:- Iridium 5: B1041 (previously Iridium 3)- CRS 14: B1039 (previously CRS-12)- Bangabandhu: B1046 (new, first Block V)- NASA TESS: B1045 (new, last Block IV)- Iridium 6: B1043 (previously Zuma)
Scheduled:Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)2018NET March 29 - Iridium Next Flight 5 (x10) - Falcon 9 (B1041.2) - Vandenberg SLC-4E - 14:19:49NET April 2 - Dragon SpX-14 (CRS-14), RRM3 MISSE-FF 1, PFCS, ASIM - Falcon 9 (B1039.2) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 20:30April 12 - AFSPC-11, EAGLE (ESPA Augmented Geostationary Laboratory Experiment): HTI-SpX, MYCROFT, CEASE-III-RR, ISAL, ARMOR - Atlas V 551 (AV-079) - Canaveral SLC-41 - 22:00-02:00NET April 16 - TESS [Astro EX-1] - Falcon 9 (B1045) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 22:32-22:33 (or NLT June)NET Late April 5 - Bangabandhu-1 - Falcon 9 (B1046) - Kennedy LC-39A - 16:08
Then, a Falcon 9, from pad 40, will launch NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on April 16 at 6:32pm EDT. The launch window lasts about one minute. Following that, a Falcon 9, from pad 39A, will carry the first satellite for the country of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu 1, on April TBD at the earliest.
Eric Berger @SciGuySpaceCommercial crew milestones as of the end of 2017.
Michael Baylor @nextspaceflightThe #SpaceX DM-1 mission will fly on B1051.
SFN Launch Schedule, updated March 26:NET April 24
Matt Desch @IridiumBossWe are having an issue with 1 of the 10 satellites in prep for #Iridium5. Our supplier and launch team is resetting for NET 3/31, with potential to shift into next week, if not resolved quickly. Launch success is priority #1! Will provide more info as available.
New Tweet: Matt Desch @Iridium Boss, (apparently) 5:45 pm PDThttps://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/978795278118653952QuotePositive update to our satellite and launch delay. Just been apprised there has been a technical resolution; satellites and F9 are in great shape and ready to go! Was ground harness test cable issue - now fixed. Launch now pulled back to Friday, 3/30 at 7:14am pdt! #GoTeam!
Positive update to our satellite and launch delay. Just been apprised there has been a technical resolution; satellites and F9 are in great shape and ready to go! Was ground harness test cable issue - now fixed. Launch now pulled back to Friday, 3/30 at 7:14am pdt! #GoTeam!
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/978709671556141056QuoteMatt Desch @IridiumBossWe are having an issue with 1 of the 10 satellites in prep for #Iridium5. Our supplier and launch team is resetting for NET 3/31, with potential to shift into next week, if not resolved quickly. Launch success is priority #1! Will provide more info as available.
Precise launch time for Friday's attempt is 07:13:51 PDT (10:13:51 EDT; 14:13:51 UTC).