QuoteSpace 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//
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).
NOV 1, 2018Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) has provided Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) with its sixth of ten advanced navigation payloads contracted for the U.S. Air Force’s GPS III satellite program.The GPS III navigation payload features a Mission Data Unit (MDU) with a unique 70-percent digital design that links atomic clocks, radiation-hardened processors and powerful transmitters – enabling signals three times more accurate than those on current GPS satellites. The payload also boosts signal power, which increases jamming resistance by eight times and helps extend the satellite’s lifespan.
U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center announces landmark contract modifications for reuse of SpaceX launch vehicles/ Published September 25, 2020LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Enterprise and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) recently signed a contract modification to reuse a Falcon 9 first-stage booster – for the first time on a National Security Space Launch mission – starting with the fifth Global Positioning System (GPS)-III satellite, scheduled to launch next year.While SMC’s Launch Enterprise and SpaceX previously signed contract modifications enabling SpaceX to recover boosters for GPS III missions, this landmark “reuse” contract modification is the first of its kind for NSSL missions.“The United States’ launch industry is the envy of the world,” said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center. “Industry’s innovation has been key to SMC’s success over our 60+ year existence. I am thrilled to welcome SpaceX’s innovative reuse into the National Security Space Launch program!”“SMC’s commitment to innovative partnerships and working with the commercial sector while maintaining our mission assurance posture and mission-success record cannot be understated,” said Dr. Walt Lauderdale, SMC’s Falcon Systems and Operations Division chief and frequent mission director. “I am proud of our partnership with SpaceX that allowed us to successfully negotiate contract modifications for the upcoming GPS III missions that will save taxpayers $52.7 million while maintaining our unprecedented record of success.”“SpaceX is proud to leverage Falcon 9’s flight-proven benefits and capabilities for national security space launch missions,” said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer. “We appreciate the effort that the U.S. Space Force invested into the evaluation and are pleased that they see the benefits of the technology. Our extensive experience with reuse has allowed SpaceX to continually upgrade the fleet and save significant precious tax dollars on these launches.”SpaceX and SMC successfully launched and recovered the GPS III-SV03 booster on June 30, 2020, providing valuable data and insight on reusing the Falcon 9 launch vehicle for future NSSL missions. The booster from the upcoming GPS III-SV04 launch scheduled for Sept. 29 will also be recovered. With this latest contract modification, SMC’s Launch Enterprise agreed to reuse Falcon boosters for GPS III-SV05 and GPS III-SV06, both of which can also be recovered.The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California, is the center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. SMC’s portfolio includes space launch, global positioning systems, military satellite communications, a defense meteorological satellite control network, range systems, space-based infrared systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.
SV06 completed Thermal Vacuum testing in November 2019, within a record-setting 58 days, the shortest yet for GPS III.
The Space Force says SV06 is nicknamed Amelia Earhart
SV06 Available for Launch Spring 2021
The contracts with SpaceX to launch both GPS SV05 and SV06 in 2021 were renegotiated last year to allow reused boosters, saving the government about $64 million, Bongiovi said
The Space Force procurement request includes five national security space launches, compared with three in FY2021, and two GPS III Follow-on satellites, the same as FY2021.
While the GPS III program has reported improvements in contractor manufacturing processes over the past few years, the sixth GPS III satellite encountered failures in multiple assemblies during testing, which delayed the satellite’s projected delivery by 8 months to April 2021. Consequently, Lockheed Martin conducted rework on various assemblies, such as the onboard computer and one of the satellite’s atomic clocks. Due to the level of rework, the program carried out an additional thermal vacuum test of the satellite following reassembly. Program officials reported the satellite successfully completed this testing in October 2020.
SV06 has a projected AFL of April 2021 and a projected ILC of November 2021. SV07 has a projected AFL of May 2021 and a projected ILC of March 2022.
https://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Portals/84/documents/FY22/PROCUREMENT_/FY22%20DAF%20J-Book%20-%203022%20-%20SF%20Proc.pdf?ver=NEFQ6zdjfeGcJFeAdv_97g==#page=61QuoteSV06 has a projected AFL of April 2021 and a projected ILC of November 2021. SV07 has a projected AFL of May 2021 and a projected ILC of March 2022.AFL = Available For LaunchILC = Initial Launch Capability
Quote from: Jansen on 06/14/2021 12:47 pmAFL = Available For LaunchILC = Initial Launch CapabilityThose two sound like the same thing. What does "Available For Launch" actually mean and why is that milestone achieved many months before the actual launch?
AFL = Available For LaunchILC = Initial Launch Capability
Okay, but why is there usually such a long gap between AFL and actual launch? Is there more testing done after AFL?
Depends on the payload. A lot is classified.
Transportation alone from Littleton to the Cape usually takes quite some time. The C-5 Galaxy is not the most reliable aircraft, although the C-5M is a big improvement.
These are replenishment satellites, there might now be an immediate need for launch.
why is that milestone achieved many months before the actual launch?
Lockheed Martin VP Tonya Ladwig says the company has the next three GPS III satellites "lined up and ready to be called" for launch at its Denver production facility.
Dr. Lauderdale says SMC has "no other constraints" for SpaceX's use of this Falcon 9 booster after the GPS III SV05 launch, and the military is "certainly open to using" other boosters (i.e., not just ones that launched NSSL missions) for the GPS III SV06 launch.
Quote from: scr00chy on 06/14/2021 12:59 pm why is that milestone achieved many months before the actual launch?Spacecraft production and launch are not linked for constellation replenishment satellites. The contract for production is usually at a rate at expected needed for replenishment. Where as launch rate is by actual demand and launch system constraints. See DSCS-III production and launch rates.
