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SpaceX FH : USSF-52 (X-37B OTV-7) : KSC LC-39A : 28/29 December 2023 01:07 UTC
by
Chris Bergin
on 21 Jun, 2018 21:44
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Discussion thread for the USSF-52 (formerly AFSPC-52) mission, X-37B OTV-7.
NSF Threads for USSF-52 :
DiscussionNSF Articles for USSF-52 :
Launch 29 December 2023, at 01:07:00 UTC (28 December 8:07 pm EST) on Falcon Heavy from LC-39A.
https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1009912924356440065
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1557227/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/The Air Force has announced the award of an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service contract. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has been awarded a $130 million firm-fixed price contract for launch services to deliver Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)-52 satellite to the intended orbit. The contract provides the Government with a total launch solution for this mission, which includes launch vehicle production, mission integration and launch operations. This mission is planned to be launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
This is the fifth competitive procurement under the current Phase 1A strategy. These launch service contract awards strike a balance between meeting operational needs and lowering launch costs through reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions.
“The competitive award of this EELV launch service contract directly supports Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) mission of delivering resilient and affordable space capabilities to our Nation while maintaining assured access to space,” said Lt. Gen. John Thompson, Air Force program executive officer for Space and SMC commander.
AFSPC-52 is a classified mission projected to launch in late Fiscal Year 2020.
The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the U.S. Air Force's center of 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.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1557205/Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $130,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract, for launch services to deliver the Air Force Space Command-52 satellite to its intended orbit. This launch service contract will include launch vehicle production and mission, as well as integration, launch operations and spaceflight worthiness activities. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Kennedy Space Center, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and two proposals were received. Fiscal 2018 space procurement funds in the amount of $130,000,000 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-0003). (Awarded June 20, 2018)
Previous discussion here :
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43266.msg1728038#msg1728038
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#1
by
yokem55
on 21 Jun, 2018 21:45
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#2
by
jpo234
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:04
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What was the alternative? Atlas 5 or a Delta IV?
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#3
by
russianhalo117
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:17
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What was the alternative? Atlas 5 or a Delta IV?
previously listed on the NSF US schedule as flying on an Atlas V 500 series with other sites listing it as an AV551.
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#4
by
WindnWar
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:25
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Contract is valued at $130 million.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1557205/Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $130,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract, for launch services to deliver the Air Force Space Command-52 satellite to its intended orbit. This launch service contract will include launch vehicle production and mission, as well as integration, launch operations and spaceflight worthiness activities. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Kennedy Space Center, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and two proposals were received. Fiscal 2018 space procurement funds in the amount of $130,000,000 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-0003). (Awarded June 20, 2018)
I wonder what the competition bid, though since they didn't win we won't know.
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#5
by
WindnWar
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:34
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For comparison the last two awards AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 were to ULA for a combined price of $354 million.
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#6
by
yokem55
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:41
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So the question is, what kind of Falcon Heavy flight does $130 million buy? All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
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#7
by
russianhalo117
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:42
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So the question is, what kind of Falcon Heavy flight does $130 million buy? All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
Q; All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
A: Was not stated.
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#8
by
gongora
on 21 Jun, 2018 22:56
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#9
by
wannamoonbase
on 21 Jun, 2018 23:28
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Nice, congrats SpaceX.
The FH is a beautiful thing to see flying.
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#10
by
Michael Baylor
on 21 Jun, 2018 23:39
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So the question is, what kind of Falcon Heavy flight does $130 million buy? All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
The requirements seem to suggest that this was borderline doable on a Falcon 9 expendable. Therefore, I am guessing that this will be a fully recoverable Falcon Heavy launch. However, all three of the cores will be brand new plus the other AF requirements (thus the higher price).
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#11
by
envy887
on 21 Jun, 2018 23:51
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So the question is, what kind of Falcon Heavy flight does $130 million buy? All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
The requirements seem to suggest that this was borderline doable on a Falcon 9 expendable. Therefore, I am guessing that this will be a fully recoverable Falcon Heavy launch. However, all three of the cores will be brand new plus the other AF requirements (thus the higher price).
F9 B4 has already easily exceed the performance requirements of the RFP reference, with the supersync delivery of Intelsat 35e at 6700 kg.
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#12
by
WindnWar
on 22 Jun, 2018 01:37
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Is it possible that the reference orbit requires delivery to the specified requirements without using a supersync orbit? If so would that require a coast longer than possible with Falcon 9 to be able to achieve that orbit?
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#13
by
russianhalo117
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:11
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#14
by
envy887
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:23
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#15
by
Michael Baylor
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:24
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originally i think it was to be a transfer orbit and could now be direct insertion
That would make a Delta IV Heavy bid slightly more likely on ULA's part. It really on the payload mass though.
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#16
by
Lar
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:45
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So the question is, what kind of Falcon Heavy flight does $130 million buy? All 3 cores recovered, or exended core?
The requirements seem to suggest that this was borderline doable on a Falcon 9 expendable. Therefore, I am guessing that this will be a fully recoverable Falcon Heavy launch. However, all three of the cores will be brand new plus the other AF requirements (thus the higher price).
So SpaceX will get some cores to reuse elsewhere. Customers asking (and paying extra for) brand new cores means money in their pocket.
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#17
by
gongora
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:47
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Even if it's not direct insertion they could have bid more than the minimum required performance. The solicitations sometimes say they can buy extra performance to allow for longer lifetime, secondary payloads, etc.
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#18
by
Nomadd
on 22 Jun, 2018 02:48
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Previous discussion here :
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43266.msg1728038#msg1728038
Interesting choice, the requirements seemed borderline for F9. Good win for SpaceX.
originally i think it was to be a transfer orbit and could now be direct insertion
Could be, but I doubt it for $130 million.
Why? Would they have to give up the core? They advertise four times that payload to GTO.
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#19
by
Brovane
on 22 Jun, 2018 03:08
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So the USAF certified the FH for EELV payloads after only one flight?
SpaceX hasn't even flown the launch the USAF procured as a FH demo yet.
SpaceX hasn't even flown the launch the USAF procured as a FH demo yet.