U.S. Air Force Awards More Rocket Research Contracts

[Star One]

http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123466879

1/13/2016 - LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  -- Today the Space and Missile Systems Center awarded the first two Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) for shared public-private investments in Rocket Propulsion System (RPS) prototypes to SpaceX for development testing of the Raptor upper stage engine and Orbital ATK for development of the Common Booster Segment main stage, the Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) 63XL strap-on booster, and an extendable nozzle for Blue Origin's BE-3U/EN upper stage engine.  The initial government contribution to the SpaceX OTA is $33.6 million.  The initial government contribution to the Orbital ATK OTA is $46.9 million.  The Air Force is still in negotiations with the remaining offerors and subsequent awards, if any, will occur over the next few months.  The OTA awards are part of a comprehensive Air Force plan to transition off the Russian- supplied RD-180 propulsion system used on the Atlas V rocket by investing in industry solutions with the ultimate goal to competitively procure launch services in a domestic launch market.

"Having two or more domestic, commercially viable launch providers that also meet national security space requirements is our end goal," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, the Air Force's Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.  "These awards are essential in order to solidify U.S. assured access to space, transition the EELV program away from strategic foreign reliance, and support the U.S. launch industry's commercial viability in the global market."

The Air Force will award a portfolio of investments in industry's RPS solutions, which vary depending on what industry proposed.  The solicitation allowed companies to submit proposals for the development of a RPS prototype, which ranged from full development of a new RPS, modifications to an existing RPS to meet NSS requirements, smaller projects to address high risk items for an RPS or subcomponents, or activities required to test or qualify a new or existing RPS to meet EELV requirements.  Therefore, the value of each agreement varies depending on what was proposed. At least one third of the total cost of the RPS prototype project will be paid out of funds provided by parties to the transactions other than the federal government.

These RPS investments, which will initially occur over the course of 12-18 months, will build the foundation for future investments in industry launch system solutions and launch service commitments from invested companies.  Concurrently, the Air Force will continue to award launch services contracts to certified providers who demonstrate the capability to design, produce, qualify, and deliver launch systems and provide the mission assurance support required to deliver national security space satellites to orbit.

Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, Military Satellite Communications, Defense Meteorological Satellites, Space Launch and Range Systems, Satellite Control Networks, Space Based Infrared Systems and Space Situational Awareness capabilities.

[ugordan]

Not sure if this is the right place and connected to the above (the contract values suggest it's not), but Mike Gruss of SN tweeted the following:

Air Force awards SpaceX contract worth as much as $122 61M to develop its Raptor engine as part of RD-180 replacement program.

Air Force awards Orbital/ATK contract worth as much as $180M to develop three rocket prototypes as part of RD-180 replacement program.

Air Force announcement says Orbital-ATK's next-generation rocket could use Blue Origin BE-3 for its upper stage engine.

* Correction: Total potential government investment: $61M. Total potential SpaceX investment: $122M.

https://twitter.com/Gruss_SN/status/687395498848817153
https://twitter.com/Gruss_SN/status/687395703799320576
https://twitter.com/Gruss_SN/status/687397916441489409

[Brovane]

That is very interesting that SpaceX is being awarded some money for Raptor development.  I remember a lot of arguments on some threads on this board that SpaceX wouldn't pursue this contract.

[Targeteer]

Here are the details of the actual contracts

ATK Launch Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Orbital ATK Inc., Magna, Utah, has been awarded a $46,968,005 other transaction agreement for the development of three rocket propulsion system prototypes for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. This agreement implements Section 1604 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the development of a next-generation rocket propulsion system that will transition away from the use of the Russian-supplied RD-180 engine to a domestic alternative for National Security Space launches. An other transaction agreement was used in lieu of a standard procurement contract in order to leverage on-going investment by industry in rocket propulsion systems. This other transaction agreement requires shared cost investment with ATK Launch Systems Inc. for the development of prototypes of the GEM 63XL strap-on solid rocket motor, the Common Booster Segment (CBS) solid rocket motor, and an Extendable Nozzle for Blue Origin’s BE-3U upper stage engine. These rocket propulsion systems are intended for use on an Orbital ATK next generation launch vehicle.  The GEM 63XL strap-on solid rocket motor is also intended for use on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan launch vehicle.  The locations of performance are Magna, Utah; Iuka, Mississippi; Chandler, Arizona; and Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The work is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 30, 2019.  Air Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $46,968,005 are being obligated at the time of award.  ATK Launch Systems Inc. is contributing $31,130,360 at the time of award.  The total potential government investment, including all options, is $180,238,059.  The total potential investment by ATK Launch Systems Inc., including all options, is $124,830,693. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with multiple offers received. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-16-9-0002).
 
Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $33,660,254 other transaction agreement for the development of the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. This agreement implements Section 1604 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the development of a next-generation rocket propulsion system that will transition away from the use of the Russian-supplied RD-180 engine to a domestic alternative for National Security Space launches. An other transaction agreement was used in lieu of a standard procurement contract in order to leverage on-going investment by industry in rocket propulsion systems. This other transaction agreement requires shared cost investment with SpaceX for the development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The locations of performance are NASA Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Hawthorne, California; and Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The work is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2018. Air Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,660,254 are being obligated at the time of award.  SpaceX is contributing $67,320,506 at the time of award. The total potential government investment, including all options, is $61,392,710. The total potential investment by SpaceX, including all options, is $122,785,419. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with multiple offers received. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-16-9-0001).

[ChrisWilson68]

This other transaction agreement requires shared cost investment with SpaceX for the development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles.

Wow, that's news!  Raptor to be used for a new upper stage for the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.  There was talk of that a long time ago, but I don't think we've heard of this in a while.  And from a government contract, which makes it real.

[Coastal Ron]

Wow, that's news!  Raptor to be used for a new upper stage for the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.  There was talk of that a long time ago, but I don't think we've heard of this in a while.  And from a government contract, which makes it real.

One way to look at it is whether the $33.6M minimum that they will be getting will cover the launch pad upgrades needed to incorporate methane fueling, plus the cost of building and qualifying a new 2nd stage tank assembly.  If so, or if they are confident that they will be receiving additional funding in the future (potentially up to $122.7M), then it's a "free" upgrade of their existing launchers, since they were already planning to build the Raptor for the BFR/MCT anyways.

Now our rocket scientists here on NSF will have to calculate what that does to the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy LEO and GTO numbers...

[baldusi]

Raptor prototype is the wording. A small version of the Raptor, in the 800kN range, could add some serious performance to F9 and FH. I wouldn't discount 6 tonnes to GTO for F9 and 60 tonnes to LEO for FH.
It would only seem logical to do a small version first, to learn the propellant lessons on a small scale, before committing to the big version.
I suspect that the government investment made it worthwhile to SpaceX and it can reasonably be funded under the EELV program.

[Kansan52]

Raptor prototype is the wording. A small version of the Raptor, in the 800kN range, could add some serious performance to F9 and FH. I wouldn't discount 6 tonnes to GTO for F9 and 60 tonnes to LEO for FH.
It would only seem logical to do a small version first, to learn the propellant lessons on a small scale, before committing to the big version.
I suspect that the government investment made it worthwhile to SpaceX and it can reasonably be funded under the EELV program.

That certainly fits. SX used the F1 to test elements required for larger vehicles. Improving the Falcon stack and proving out the Raptor seems to fit.

[Stan-1967]

Raptor prototype is the wording. A small version of the Raptor, in the 800kN range, could add some serious performance to F9 and FH. I wouldn't discount 6 tonnes to GTO for F9 and 60 tonnes to LEO for FH.
It would only seem logical to do a small version first, to learn the propellant lessons on a small scale, before committing to the big version.
I suspect that the government investment made it worthwhile to SpaceX and it can reasonably be funded under the EELV program.

I don't think a Raptor changes the picture much for F9 or FH payload to LEO, but to GTO or beyond it will make huge difference in the payload capability if they can push ISP upwards of 370s.   

The other angle of a Raptor upper stage is that F9 & FH are already pushing the sweet spot of getting +6 tons to GTO & enabling re-usability for the 1st stage.   Second stage re-use could benefit from a correctly sized "small" methane Raptor.   It would achieve enough extra payload that various reuse schemes may be tried on S2.   They won't be launching bigger sats, but the extra mass margins will be put towards S2 re-use.

[Robotbeat]

You could get around 26 tons to LEO for an Expendable Falcon 9 + Raptor, vs about 19 without Raptor. That's nothing to sneeze at.

[deltaV]

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-usa-air-force-idUSKCN0UR31Z20160113) reports that "Negotiations with Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc (AJRD.N) are continuing, according to a source familiar with the matter."

[Lar]

The ratios are interesting... If you read the initial and total awards.

- Orbital ATK is putting up 2/3 of what the government is (or, put another way, the government is putting up 150% of what Orbital ATK is)
- SpaceX is putting up 2x of what the government is (or, put another way, the government is putting up 50% of what Orbital ATK is)

That should raise some eyebrows in various places.

[dror]

These two sentences doesn't go together:
 "  This agreement implements Section 1604 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the development of a next-generation rocket propulsion system that will transition away from the use of the Russian-supplied RD-180 engine to a domestic alternative for National Security Space launches."
"This other transaction agreement requires shared cost
investment with SpaceX for the development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. "

How does an upper stage engine replace rd-180 ?

[QuantumG]

Because it makes the Falcon family capable of delivering the payloads that currently require the Atlas V.

[woods170]

Because it makes the Falcon family capable of delivering the payloads that currently require the Atlas V.

Indeed. There is more than one way to get rid of RD-180:
- Get rid of the engine itself and replace it with an all-US alternative (Aerojet is working on that)
- Get rid of the launcher (Atlas V) and replace it with an all-US alternative (multiple companies working on that)

SpaceX was just awarded some money to go for the latter alternative. Basically, USAF just handed SpaceX money for an effort to make ULA's star vehicle go away. That will raise some eyebrows in Centennial, Colorado.

[woods170]

The ratios are interesting... If you read the initial and total awards.

- Orbital ATK is putting up 2/3 of what the government is (or, put another way, the government is putting up 150% of what Orbital ATK is)
- SpaceX is putting up 2x of what the government is (or, put another way, the government is putting up 50% of what Orbital ATK is)

That should raise some eyebrows in various places.

Another fine example of SpaceX doing things slightly different from old-space:
- SpaceX coughing up 2/3 of the investment (majority investment)
- Orbital/ATK coughing up 2/5 of the investment (minority investment)

[Star One]

Because it makes the Falcon family capable of delivering the payloads that currently require the Atlas V.

I would rather think they would also be interested in delivering the payloads for people such as the NRO that currently require the Delta IVH.

[ChrisWilson68]

Because it makes the Falcon family capable of delivering the payloads that currently require the Atlas V.

I would rather think they would also be interested in delivering the payloads for people such as the NRO that currently require the Delta IVH.

Perhaps, but that's irrelevant for this pool of money, since it was designated by Congress to fund new rocket engines to help end reliance on Russian engines.  Which is why we're talking about Atlas V and not Delta IV.

[MP99]

These two sentences doesn't go together:
 "  This agreement implements Section 1604 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the development of a next-generation rocket propulsion system that will transition away from the use of the Russian-supplied RD-180 engine to a domestic alternative for National Security Space launches."
"This other transaction agreement requires shared cost
investment with SpaceX for the development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. "

How does an upper stage engine replace rd-180 ?

If the Raptor family is similar to Merlin, a sea level variant could follow on a methalox first stage (MCT?), and have flight heritage from the u/s engine.

Cheers, Martin

[SLC17A5]

Great news, because it fills in the missing link in the gradualist path of SpaceX upgrades: F9 -> FH -> ?? -> BFR.  Raptor upper stage integrates pad methane and provides an operationally testable platform for retirement of risk.  We now have a plausible route to methalox F9 or BFR.