NASA's LSP issues a draft RFP for Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS)

[Vultur]

How do we know that? I mean, there aren't really any current providers in this class (right?), so how do we know what % of current secondary payloads would become primary payloads if small, cheap launches were available?

[catdlr]

Venture Class Launch Services: Three Companies to Launch CubeSats

Published on Oct 14, 2015
NASA awarded contracts to three companies to build and operate launchers dedicated to CubeSats and small satellites. Firefly Space Systems, Rocket Lab USA and Virgin Galactic are each developing launch systems tailored to the needs of the small satellite community.

[catdlr]

New Vehicles for New Ventures

Published on Oct 14, 2015
NASA hosted a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to announce the outcome of the Venture Class Launch Service (VCLS) competition. The vehicles expected to meet the VCLS requirement represent an emerging class of commercial launch services for small satellites -- often called CubeSats or nanosatellites -- and science missions that are currently limited to ride-share arrangements, flying only when space is available on NASA and other launches.

[catdlr]

Firefly Space Systems Selected for Venture Class Launches

Published on Oct 14, 2015
Firefly Space Systems, based in Cedar Park, Texas, is developing its Alpha vehicle that uses an aerospike first stage engine powered by refined kerosene and liquid oxygen. The rocket is tailored to payloads weighing about 880 pounds, which means it could launch a variety of CubeSats all at once or a single small satellite or a mix.

[catdlr]

Rocket Lab USA Selected for Venture Class Launches

Published on Oct 14, 2015
Rocket Lab USA, based in Los Angeles, plans to use its carbon-composite Electron rocket to send CubeSats into space. The Electron is powered by Rocket Lab's Rutherford engine, a 3D printed engine that uses batteries to drive its pumps. Electron is designed to loft about 330 pounds to a 310-mile-high, sun-sychronous orbit, so the rocket can a combination of CubeSats or small satellites.

[catdlr]

Virgin Galactic Selected for Venture Class Launches

Published on Oct 14, 2015
Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne is an air-launched system that can optimize each mission to customer requirements by operating from a variety of launch sites. Virgin Galactic has full, private funding in place for the program, which includes a dedicated and world-class team of 150 experienced aerospace professionals working from a state-of-the-art 150,000 square foot manufacturing and design facility in Long Beach, California.

[Kim Keller]

Latest addition to the LSP "Rocket Garden":

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Latest addition to the LSP "Rocket Garden":

I still wonder which "flower" will blossom and which one will wither.....the major thing that lead to me hesitate on the small LV market is that none of the new LSPs have announced the identity of the claimed payloads they are to carry (except for Virgin-OneWeb which is an "internal" payload). 

[catdlr]

Venture Class Launch Services: Small Rockets Carry Big Dreams


NASAKennedy
Published on Apr 11, 2018

Venture Class Launch Services short film was created by the VFX students at the DAVE School, in collaboration with the NASA Launch Services Program. 
 
Visual Effects Artists:
 
Matthew Bartley
Gabriela Brandes
Jeremy Brouwer
Daniela Campos
Justin Capestany
Cameron Dees
Kyle Garand
 
Gerardo Garcia
Mario L. Garcia
Charmaine Gilbreath
Shelby Hinote
Brittany Hoxie
Gabriel Holguin
Samuel Jean-Baptiste
Jermelle Jovellanos
Mason Koopman
 
Stephen Otto
Gabrielle Perrigo
Shawn Pryor
Andrew Tafuri
Kaitlyn Watkins
Josh Wendler
Dane Williams
 
Directed by: Matt Killian
Written by: Alexander Llanos & Matt Killian
VFX Supervisor: Anthony Marigliano
VFX Coordinator: Monica Duncan
Original Music & Sound Design by: Kays Alatrakchi

[Steven Pietrobon]

Seems like Scout and Pegasus don't get a lookin. :-(