June 26, 2012
Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected] George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
[email protected] CONTRACT RELEASE: C12-027
NASA ADDS ORBITAL'S ANTARES TO LAUNCH SERVICES II CONTRACT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has modified its NASA Launch Services
(NLS) II contract with Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Va.,
to add the Antares launch vehicle, formerly known as Taurus II, for
future missions.
The NLS II on-ramp provision provides an opportunity annually for
launch service providers not presently under NLS II contract to
compete for future missions, and allows launch service providers
already under contract to introduce launch vehicles not currently on
their NLS II contracts, such as Antares.
NLS II contracts are multiple award, indefinite
delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with ordering periods through
June 2020. The contracts provide for a minimum capability of
delivering agency payloads weighing approximately 550 pounds or more
to a minimum 124-mile-high circular orbit with a launch inclination
of 28.5 degrees. The launch service providers also may offer a range
of vehicles to NASA to meet higher payload mass and orbit
requirements.
These contracts support the goals and objectives of the agency's
Science Mission Directorate, Human Exploration and Operations Mission
Directorate, and Office of the Chief Technologist. Under the
contract, NASA also can provide launch services to other government
agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
The Launch Services Program Office at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida is responsible for program management.