РН Вулкан - Vulcan Centaur heavy-lift launch vehicle (Планов громадье в ULA)

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http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-wins-competitive-stp3-contract.aspx

United Launch Alliance Wins Competitive Contract Award to Launch the United States Air Force STP-3 Mission

Centennial, Colo. (June 29, 2017) – The United States Air Force announced today that United Launch Alliance (ULA) was awarded a contract to launch the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission. This contract resulted from a competitive award under the Air Force's Phase 1A procurement strategy.

"We are honored that the Air Force has entrusted ULA with launching this important test mission," said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO. "ULA offers the most reliable ride to space. With a mission success record of 100 percent and a tremendous heritage of 71 consecutive successful Atlas V launches, we provide the best overall launch service for our customers. ULA is the choice for customers when a critical payload must be delivered to space on-time and safely."

The STP-3 mission is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2019 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This mission will launch aboard an Atlas V 551 vehicle.

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ULA also launched the first Space Test Program mission in March 2007. The launch marked the first Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle mission on an Atlas V and the first Atlas V mission for ULA.

The STP-3 mission consists of a primary space vehicle (STPSat-6) and an integrated propulsive EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) holding up to six payloads (IP-ESPA). The STPSat-6 space vehicle will host the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System-3 (SABRS-3) payload, and the NASA Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload. Additionally, seven science and technology (S&T) payloads are manifested by the Department of Defense Space Test Program on STPSat-6.

With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 115 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/30/air-force-selects-atlas-5-to-launch-multipurpose-satellite-to-high-orbit/

Air Force selects Atlas 5 to launch multipurpose satellite to high orbit
June 30, 2017 Justin Ray


An Atlas 5-551 will launch the Air Force's STP 3 mission. Credit: ULA

CAPE CANAVERAL — A nuclear blast detection satellite and an assortment of experiments will be boosted directly into geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth in 2019 by the most-powerful version of United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 rocket, the Air Force has decided.

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The Atlas 5, fitted with its maximum of five side-mounted solid rocket boosters for the greatest thrust, was awarded the Space Test Program 3 mission under a firm-fixed price, standalone contract with a value of $191,141,581.

"The competitive award of the STP-3 launch services contract to United Launch Alliance directly supports SMC's mission of delivering resilient and affordable space capabilities to our nation," said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, Air Force program executive officer for space and the Space and Missile Systems Center commander at Los Angeles Air Force Base.

STP 3 is the third National Security Space launch competed between ULA's stable of rockets and SpaceX's Falcon 9. Two earlier GPS launches went to SpaceX.

The emergence of SpaceX into the market sparked competition for some missions that fall within the overlapping launch capabilities of both SpaceX and ULA. Heavier missions exceeding the Falcon's ability to lift them to the desired orbit, however, continue to be sole-sourced to ULA.

"Yesterday's award of the STP 3 launch services contract marks the third of 15 competitively-procured launches for Phase 1A. This was a 'best value' source selection in accordance with the federal acquisition regulations," said Claire Leon, Space and Missile Systems Center's Launch Enterprise director.

The STP 3 mission is the dual launch of the primary spacecraft — known as Space Test Program Satellite 6 (STPSat 6) — and a propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter carrying as many as six small payloads.


Illustration of different orbits. Credit: ULA

Under terms of the contract, the Atlas 5 must deliver a threshold mass of 7,202 pounds and may lift up to the objective mass of 10,024 pounds directly to geosynchronous orbit at an inclination of 0 degrees. The exact mass will be decided based upon the ESPA payload selection.

ULA has experience with direct insertions to GEO, successfully launching seven missions for the National Reconnaissance Office and Air Force to that orbit in its 119 flights to date. Heritage Centaur missions have done countless GEO launches as well.

The Atlas 5-551 is scheduled to perform a GEO direct mission for the Air Force next spring.

It is a complex trek requiring three firings of the upper stage to reach a parking orbit, then a geosynchronous transfer orbit and a final burn about five hours after liftoff to reach a circular geosynchronous altitude that matches Earth's rotation to stay in lockstep with one area of the globe.

After deploying the STP 3 payloads, the Air Force will require the Centaur upper stage to further maneuver into a safe disposal orbit.

"We are honored that the Air Force has entrusted ULA with launching this important test mission," said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO.

"ULA offers the most reliable ride to space. With a mission success record of 100 percent and a tremendous heritage of 71 consecutive successful Atlas 5 launches, we provide the best overall launch service for our customers. ULA is the choice for customers when a critical payload must be delivered to space on-time and safely."

STPSat 6 will host the National Nuclear Security Administration's Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System 3 (SABRS 3) package and NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD).

What's more, the Department of Defense's Space Test Program will fit an additional seven experiments on the satellite.

The ESPA payloads will be identified no later than 12 months prior to launch.

SABRS 3 is the geosynchronous element of the dispersed United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System that provides near real-time worldwide, highly survivable capability to detect, locate and
 report any nuclear detonations in the Earth's atmosphere or in near space.

LCRD will investigate potential breakthrough technology to send and receive data, video and other information using lasers at rates 10 to 100 times faster than today's fastest RF radios. It could be incorporated into NASA's future data-relay systems.


Illustration of the STP 3 pre-launch integration plan. Credit: Air Force

A surplus satellite bus was repurposed for STPSat 6, and Orbital ATK was awarded a sole-source contract in February to perform integration and support services for the STP 3 mission.

Under that contract, Orbital ATK will integrate and test the spacecraft, deliver operations procedures, and support launch and on-orbit check-out.

"The capability to modify one of our current buses into a multipurpose spacecraft demonstrates Orbital ATK's proven history of doing whatever it takes to meet the needs of our customers," said Chris Long, vice president of National Space Systems at Orbital ATK.

"This flexible and modular satellite bus platform provides an especially unique opportunity to host multiple instruments from three departments of government on one spacecraft, achieving customer goals at an affordable price."

The Air Force put five other National Security Space launches out for bids from ULA and SpaceX on Thursday, including three more GPS 3 satellites and two Air Force missions directly to geosynchronous orbit in 2020 — the Wide Field of View (WFOV) Testbed missile-warning satellite and another propulsive ESPA amounting to about 6,300 pounds in a launch known as AFSPC 12 and a third pair of Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program spacecraft, known as GSSAP 5 and 6, amounting to 3,000 pounds under the mission known of AFSPC 8.

Proposals are due back to the Air Force no later than August 14. The contracts for the launches are expected to be awarded within about six months.

Further competitions are planned for a batch of five missions — NROL-85, L-87 and L-107, a SBIRS GEO satellite and AFSPC 44 — a standalone fight for AFSPC 52 and one for GPS 3-07.

That represents all Air Force missions needing to purchase rockets through 2020, except for the launches of three large-class NRO payloads that SpaceX has chosen not to contest. Those will be sole-sourced to Delta 4-Heavy rockets to carry in the early 2020s.

Also, Leon said all 36 cores under the EELV Block Buy have now been assigned. That news comes just weeks after the Air Force assigned the AEHF 6 nuclear-survivable communications satellite to the Atlas 5-551 and upgraded the AEHF 5 launch vehicle from a 541 to a 551 due to mission requirements.

"These are really dynamic times for EELV program. Launch is obviously fundamental to our nation's critical space capabilities. M y old boss used to say satellites are potted plants without the launch capability," Leon said.

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http://spacenews.com/air-force-ask-spacex-ula-to-bid-on-a-five-launch-contract/

Air Force asks SpaceX, ULA to bid on a five-launch contract
by Phillip Swarts — July 5, 2017

WASHINGTON — The Air Force announced it is soliciting proposals for five upcoming launches — the largest group it has posted since certifying SpaceX to compete with United Launch Alliance for launch contracts.

Claire Leon, director of the Launch Enterprise Directorate at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, told reporters that grouping launches together was an effort to streamline and speed the acquisition process at a time when the national security sector is demanding ever-increasing access to space.

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United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launches NROL-55 mission. Credit: ULA

"By doing five at once, it makes our acquisition more efficient and it allows the contractors to put in one proposal," she said.

The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Launch Service contracts included in the request for proposal (RFP) are Air Force Space Command Satellite 8 and Satellite 12, and a three GPS 3 launches.

Interested companies have until Aug. 14 to submit proposals, but must bid on all five launches. A waiver to not bid on a particular launch will only be granted if there are technical concerns, Leon said.

AFSPC-8 will carry two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites, GSSAP-5 and 6. The GSSAP program is an Air Force effort to deploy satellites that can keep an eye on the geostationary orbital belt 36,000 kilometers above the equator, as well as other orbits, to track satellite movements and improve attribution should any problems arise. The launch is scheduled for spring 2020.

AFSPC-12 will carry two space vehicles: the Wide Field of View Testbed and a propulsive EELV Secondary Payload Adapter, the Air Force said. Both are aiming for geosynchronous orbit, and are scheduled to lift off in early 2020.

The service did not say when the three Lockheed Martin-built GPS 3 satellite launches are scheduled for. Delays in the program have repeatedly pushed back the schedule, and the first satellite in the program has yet to launch.

Two more bidding opportunities are expected before the end of 2017. Leon said the service would put out an RFP for AFSPC-52 in August, and another batch of five launches grouped together sometime before the end of the year.

That next group of five launches would include three missions for the National Reconnaissance Office — NROL-85, -87, and -107 — one satellite for the Space Based Infrared Systems missile-warning constellation, and AFSPC-44. Leon said it's possible that another GPS 3 launch might be added to the group as well.


SpaceX

Although United Launch Alliance has long been the military's sole source for national security launches, the desire to develop competition in the field has many looking to Elon Musk's SpaceX.

SpaceX, however, would need a heavy-lift vehicle to successfully win some of the upcoming launch bids, Leon said. The company's Falcon Heavy is not yet certified for military launches.

"It would need to be certified by the time that we awarded the contract," Leon said. "We want to see one flight, and before we would actually fly a mission we would want to see three flights."

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said late last month that Falcon Heavy is on track to debut later this year and should fly a total of three times within the next 18 months.

For the first part of the Pentagon's competitive space launch contracts — dubbed Phase 1A — the Air Force has decided not to allow previously flown boosters for any missions.

Leon said that approving reusable-rocket technology would require an entirely new certification process, at a time when the military wants to focus certifying things like the Falcon Heavy or new entrants like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

However, the service is open to eventually accepting reusable technology as part of a company's bid.

"We are trying to reduce the cost of launch, and if this is the offering from commercial providers we need to get on board," Leon said. "It's just going to take us a little bit of time, but it is something we are starting to study first. Longer term my hope is any company that's offering flight proven hardware demonstrates or develops a track record that helps us build confidence."

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[Salo]

 Tory Bruno‏Подлинная учетная запись @torybruno  10 июл.  
Tory Bruno Ретвитнул(а) Doug Mohney
3 months from the phone call. 17 days from the satellite ready at the launch site
Tory Bruno добавил(а),

 
 Doug Mohney @DougonTech
 В ответ @torybruno
How fast can you launch an Atlas V mission these days?

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https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/starliner-milestones-ula-switches-atlas-booster-maiden-flight/

Starliner meets milestones as ULA switches Atlas booster for maiden flight
July 13, 2017 by Chris Gebhardt

...



Meanwhile, as construction efforts for Starliner continue on pace for a June launch of the OFT, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has made the decision to swap the Atlas V first stage booster that will power the first Starliner to orbit.

Originally, the OFT mission had been slated to launch on AV-082, Atlas Vehicle 82.

According to the latest information, that has now changed on ULA's end, with the company opting to swap AV-082 for AV-080.

While the reason for the first stage Atlas V swap is unknown, the change to the first stage is expected to have little effect on flight operations or NASA's clearance to launch the OFT mission to the ISS next year.

...

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ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch 5 мин. назад

.@SierraNevCorp has sel ected ULA's #AtlasV rocket to launch its Dream Chaser cargo mission to the @Space_Station.

http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-signs-contract-with-sierra-nevada-crs2.aspx

United Launch Alliance Signs Contract with Sierra Nevada Corporation to Launch Dream Chaser® Spacecraft to Deliver Cargo to International Space Station

Centennial, Colo., (July 19, 2017) – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced that it sel ected United Launch Alliance's (ULA's) commercially developed Atlas V rocket to launch the first two missions of its Dream Chaser cargo system in support of NASA's Cargo Resupply Services 2 (CRS2) contract.

"ULA is pleased to partner with Sierra Nevada Corporation to launch its Dream Chaser cargo system to the International Space Station in less than three years," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Human and Commercial Systems. "We recognize the importance of on time and reliable transportation of crew and cargo to Station and are honored the Atlas V was selected to continue to launch cargo resupply missions for NASA."

The two awarded Atlas V missions will carry pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). The first mission is set to lift off in 2020 fr om Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida. The second contracted mission is scheduled to lift off in 2021. Dream Chaser will launch atop an Atlas V 552, with a dual engine Centaur upper stage.

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"SNC recognizes the proven reliability of the Atlas V rocket and its availability and schedule performance makes it the right choice for the first two flights of the Dream Chaser," said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC's Space Systems business area. "ULA is an important player in the market and we appreciate their history and continued contributions to space flights and are pleased to support the aerospace community in Colorado and Alabama," added Sirangelo.

The Atlas V has received NASA's highest and most rigorous Category 3 Certification, which allows the Atlas V family of launch vehicles to fly NASA's most complex and critical missions.

The Dream Chaser spacecraft has been in development for more than 10 years, including six years as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and leverages more than 40 years of NASA spaceflight and space shuttle heritage. In 2016, Dream Chaser was selected by NASA under the CRS2 contract to transport pressurized and unpressurized cargo to and fr om the ISS with return and disposal services.

About United Launch Alliance
With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 115 satellites to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field and enable personal device-based GPS navigation.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Recognized as one of "The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space," Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) provides customer-focused advanced technology solutions in the areas of space, aviation, electronics and systems integration. SNC's diverse technologies are used in applications including space exploration and satellites, aircraft integrations, navigation and guidance systems, threat detection and security, scientific research and infrastructure protection. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, SNC operates under the leadership of owners, CEO Fatih Ozmen and President Eren Ozmen, with a workforce of more than 3,000 personnel in 34 locations in 19 U.S. states, England, Germany and Turkey providing global support to customers.

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http://spaceflight101.com/sierra-nevada-firms-up-atlas-v-missions-for-dream-chaser/

Sierra Nevada firms up Atlas V Missions for Dream Chaser Spacecraft, gears up for Flight Testing
July 19, 2017

Sierra Nevada Corporation has formally signed a launch contract with United Launch Alliance for two Dream Chaser missions to deliver supplies to the International Space Station under NASA's second round of Commercial Resupply Services. Meanwhile, the company is making progress toward a resumption of atmospheric flight testing with a full-scale version of their winged space plane that will take off vertically on ULA's Atlas V rocket, re-enter the atmosphere like the Space Shuttle and glide to a runway landing.

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Dream Chaser Runway Testing – Photo: Sierra Nevada Corporation

Atlas V had been Dream Chaser's launch vehicle of choice ever since the first concepts for the re-usable space plane were presented in 2007 and the selection of Atlas V for operational missions was only considered a mere formality. The two missions announced on Wednesday are currently targeting 2020 and 2021; NASA and Sierra Nevada have agreed not to perform a test flight and begin with operational cargo deliveries fr om the first mission.


Photo: Sierra Nevada Corporation

NASA sel ected the Dream Chaser in January 2016 as one of three commercial vehicles for the second round of Commercial Resupply Services covering a period of 2019 through 2024, the other two companies being the current CRS-1 providers SpaceX with their Dragon and Orbital ATK with their Cygnus.

Under the contract, NASA committed to purchasing a minimum of six resupply missions from each provider, though only one mission has been formally ordered so far. NASA cited the primary reason in adding Sierra Nevada to the mix as a desire in a robust cargo fleet as launch failures in 2013 and 2015 have showcased that even with two providers it was possible to end up in a situation wh ere none of them were in a position to fly.

Sierra Nevada is confident that Dream Chaser will be able to take a unique position within the Station's cargo fleet. As part of their CRS-2 bid, the company updated Dream Chaser's design to feature foldable wings to fit within a five-meter payload fairing – this also broadens the range of launch vehicles that could lift future Dream Chaser missions including Europe's Ariane 6, ULA's Vulcan, Blue Origin's New Glenn and SpaceX's Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy.


Artist's Concept of Dream Chaser docked to ISS (Expendable Cargo Carrier Missing) – Image: SNC

Another feature added for the cargo version of Dream Chaser is an expendable cargo module affixed to the aft end of the spacecraft, capable of carrying 3,250 Kilograms of cargo to ISS in addition to 1,750 kg carried within the space plane plus up to 500kg of external hardware. The expendable container, featuring the docking interface with ISS, would drop away from Dream Chaser prior to re-entry and burn up in the atmosphere with the Station's trash while the spacecraft carries up to 1,750kg of downmass to a gentle touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

One of Dream Chaser's biggest selling points is its low-G re-entry environment with peak G-forces not exceeding 1.5 Gs which is relevant for a number of scientific studies to be deployed to ISS. Dragon, as the other recoverable ISS resupply craft, subjects return hardware to higher G-loads and a much more turbulent flight environment around the time its parachutes open during final descent toward a splashdown landing in the Ocean. Landing on a runway will also enable experiments to be accessed virtually within minutes after returning from orbit.


Atlas V – Dream Chaser Configuration – Image: United Launch Alliance

Dream Chaser, weighing around 18 metric tons – will utilize the Atlas V 552 launch vehicle – the most powerful version of the workhorse launcher, featuring five Solid Rocket Boosters, a Centaur Upper Stage with two RL-10 engines for maximum push into Low Earth Orbit and a five-diameter payload fairing to enshroud Dream Chaser and its expendable cargo module during the atmospheric flight phase. The two-engine Centaur upper stage has yet to fly as part of an Atlas V stack, currently looking at a debut in mid-2018 with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner.

"SNC recognizes the proven reliability of the Atlas V rocket and its availability and schedule performance makes it the right choice for the first two flights of the Dream Chaser," said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC's Space Systems business area. "ULA is an important player in the market and we appreciate their history and continued contributions to space flights and are pleased to support the aerospace community in Colorado and Alabama."


Photo: Sierra Nevada Corporation

Gearing up for Dream Chaser's eventual first taste of space flight, Sierra Nevada is currently in the process of performing ground-based tow tests at Edwards Air Force Base as a precursor to captive carry and ultimately free flight tests to validate the craft's control and guidance system for flight.

Dream Chaser had already been to this stage in October 2013 when completing its first free glide test that enjoyed a very smooth approach to the runway but ended with a setback when the craft's left main gear failed – a non-flight item that had been borrowed from the F-5E Tiger fighter jet. Dream Chaser managed to touch down on only one gear, but eventually skidded off the runway and somersaulted in the desert sand, suffering some structural damage.

Sierra Nevada shipped a flight-like Engineering Test Article of the Dream Chaser spacecraft to Edwards Air Force Base adjacent to NASA's Armstrong Research Center in February 2017 to complete an extensive testing campaign. Dream Chaser completed its latest tow test this Monday, being accelerated down the runway by a truck before being cut free to study the craft's braking performance and put the guidance, navigation and control systems to the test to see whether they can keep Dream Chaser on the runway centerline – a precursor to the craft lining up with the centerline in flight.


2013 Free Flight – Photo: SNC

Captive carry tests will see the craft take flight suspended under a heavy-lift helicopter that will take it to over 3 Kilometers in altitude for an evaluation of all aerodynamic properties of the vehicle. Flight tests are currently expected to get underway later this year, starting out at similar altitudes and will see Dream Chaser pitch down to build speed before entering a simulated approach to test out all flight controls and automated landing systems. The aim of the test is to have Dream Chaser line up with runway 22L, flare up its nose just around 100 meters in altitude and come to a gentle landing on two main gear wheels and a nose skid for rollout on the runway.

Sierra Nevada so far has passed three integration milestones since receiving its CRS-2 contract which are mandatory reviews of design documentation by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.


Photo: Sierra Nevada Corporation

In presentations given in 2016, NASA indicated that the first Dream Chaser missions would make use of a robotic capture and berthing before upgrading to autonomous docking of the spacecraft to the ISS – Dream Chaser's attachment mechanism developed by Belgium-based QinetiQ will be capable of both.

In addition to its NASA missions, Dream Chaser has won over the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) that is currently developing a 2021 mission utilizing the Dream Chaser to fly around 30 scientific studies fr om UN members to space. The two-week mission to Low Earth Orbit is primarily focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be available to all UN Members including developing countries that rarely receive an opportunity to carry out research in space.

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https://www.astrobotic.com/2017/7/26/astrobotic-and-united-launch-alliance-announce-mission-to-the-moon

Astrobotic and United Launch Alliance Announce 
Mission to the Moon
July 26, 2017

Rust Belt Company, Astrobotic selects ULA to launch its Peregrine Lander in 2019 for lunar mission 50 years after Apollo 11

Pittsburgh, PA – Astrobotic and United Launch Alliance (ULA) proudly announce today that Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander will be onboard a ULA launch vehicle in 2019, during the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

"Astrobotic is thrilled to sel ect a ULA launch vehicle as the means to get Peregrine to the Moon," said John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic. "By launching with ULA, Astrobotic can rest assured our payload customers will ride on a proven launch vehicle with a solid track record of success.  Together, our two organizations will honor the past and trail blaze the lunar future."

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This effort is a big step in realizing Astrobotic's goal of creating a Rust Belt based international gateway to the Moon.  The Peregrine Lunar Lander will fly 35 kilograms of customer payloads on its first mission, with the option to upgrade to 265 kilograms on future missions.  Already 11 deals from six nations have been signed for this 2019 mission.  The first mission in 2019 will serve as a key demonstration of service for NASA, international space agencies, and companies looking to carry out missions to the Moon.  This announcement comes as Astrobotic continues to advance Peregrine toward flight, with the preliminary design review of the vehicle having already taken place in November 2016.

"Technical credibility and signed deals remain key differentiators for Astrobotic as a lunar delivery company.  Our customers and partners know that our 10 years of lunar lander development work has made us the world leader in this market," said Thornton.

"We are thrilled that Astrobotic has selected ULA to launch the Peregrine Lander to the Moon," said ULA president and CEO, Tory Bruno. "The Moon is the next great frontier, but in a different way than when Neil Armstrong landed there. Enabling technologies like those fr om Astrobotic will allow people to live and work in the space between here and the Moon and take advantage of all those resources in a way that is sustainable."

ULA joins a world-class team of mission partners led by Astrobotic.  These partners include NASA, who is providing Astrobotic access to some of the best spacecraft engineers and facilities in the world, as part of NASA's Lunar CATALYST Program; Airbus DS, who brings world-class spacecraft experience in human spaceflight and exploration and leverages previous lander development work with the European Space Agency; and Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world's leading mail and logistics company, who is the "Official Logistics Provider for Astrobotic's First Mission to the Moon."

###

About Astrobotic:
Astrobotic Technology Inc. is a lunar logistics company that delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals. The company's spacecraft accommodates multiple customer payloads on a single flight, offering flexibility at an industry-defining low price of $1.2 million per kilogram. Astrobotic is an official partner with NASA through the Lunar CATALYST program, has 23 prior and ongoing NASA contracts, a commercial partnership with Airbus DS, a corporate sponsorship with DHL, 11 deals for its first mission to the Moon, and 110 customer payloads in the pipeline for upcoming missions.  Astrobotic was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.

About ULA:
With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 115 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/07/26/commercial-lunar-mission-signs-up-with-atlas-5-for-launch/

Commercial lunar mission signs up with Atlas 5 for launch
July 26, 2017 Justin Ray

CAPE CANAVERAL — In a commercial push to return to the Moon while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, Astrobotic Technology Inc. has contracted with United Launch Alliance to use an Atlas 5 rocket to send the Peregrine lander to the lunar surface in 2019.

"Astrobotic is thrilled to sel ect a ULA launch vehicle as the means to get Peregrine to the Moon," said John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic. "By launching with ULA, Astrobotic can rest assured our payload customers will ride on a proven launch vehicle with a solid track record of success. Together, our two organizations will honor the past and trail blaze the lunar future."

This initial Peregrine lunar lander will fly 77 pounds (35 kilograms) of customer payloads from six nations either above or below the spacecraft's deck, depending on specific needs.

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Credit: Astrobotic illustration of lander

The autonomous landing will use cameras, guidance computing and five Aerojet Rocketdyne-made hypergolic engines to set the lander down on four shock-absorbing legs.

It will stand 6 feet tall (1.8 meters) and have a diameter of 8 feet (2.5 meters).

Subsequent missions envision scaling up to payload masses of 585 pounds (265 kilograms). Markets range from scientific instruments to placing mementos on the Moon.

"Technical credibility and signed deals remain key differentiators for Astrobotic as a lunar delivery company. Our customers and partners know that our 10 years of lunar lander development work has made us the world leader in this market," said Thornton.

The Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic aims to deliver payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits and individuals.

"We are thrilled that Astrobotic has selected ULA to launch the Peregrine Lander to the Moon," said ULA president and CEO, Tory Bruno. "The Moon is the next great frontier, but in a different way than when Neil Armstrong landed there. Enabling technologies like those fr om Astrobotic will allow people to live and work in the space between here and the Moon and take advantage of all those resources in a way that is sustainable."

The Atlas 5 now has added six high-profile launches to its backlog in the past four months — three commercial, two Air Force and one for NASA.

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[Apollo13]

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/08/how-americas-two-greatest-rocket-companies-battled-from-the-beginning/

Back to that myth business: after the Twitter tiff between Musk and Bruno, Ars reached out to the ULA chief to clarify his comments about the subsidy as a "myth." After all, ULA still receives annual ELC payments, as the president's fiscal year 2018 budget request for the Department of Defense makes clear (see page 105).
According to the document, the Air Force pays 75 percent of the ELC costs, and the National Reconnaissance Office covers the remainder. The total payment to ULA in 2016 was $702 million, rising to $983 million in 2017, and it's projected to increase to $1.22 billion in 2018. It is not clear why the ELC costs are slated to rise significantly, especially at a time when the rocket company has reduced its workforce to become more competitive with SpaceX. (There are whispers of concern in the industry that the parent companies are pulling profits out of ULA, rather than investing in its future competitiveness.)

By various estimates, ULA has received about $13 to $15 billion in ELC payments since the company's founding in 2006. But partly because of questions raised by Musk and partly due to concerns in Congress, the ELC payments will soon come to an end. The portion for the Atlas line of rockets stops in September 2019, and the Delta component ends a year later.

What happens after this is difficult to foretell. United Launch Alliance has been lobbying Congress and the US military to stop flying the more costly fleet of Delta rockets and to focus on the Atlas V vehicle with its cheaper Russian engine. But without the Delta IV Heavy, the military would have no way to get some of its heaviest payloads to higher orbits. Also, quietly, Lockheed and Boeing have been exploring the possible sale or breakup of ULA. So far, the price has been too high for potential buyers.

ULA received a boost in 2016 when the US Air Force awarded two separate contracts for engines that could be used to power Vulcan. There are two contenders, Blue Origin's BE-4 engine and Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR1. The Air Force provided money for both: $45.8 million to integrate the BE-4 engine into Vulcan and a contract that could be worth as much as $536 million for Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop its AR-1 engine. Both engines, made in America, would meet the US Air Force's longstanding goal to replace the Russian-made RD-180 engine.

Meanwhile, SpaceX got a small slice of Air Force pie, $33.6 million for development of its Raptor engine to power the upper stage of another launch vehicle. Orbital ATK got some money for its own booster system, too.
Thus ended the opening round of what is known as the "Rocket Propulsion System" contract to meet the Air Force's launch needs in the 2020s and 2030s. There is at least $2 billion in development money at stake, and soon the Rocket Propulsion System contracts will move into phase two. Eventually, the Air Force will down-select to two rockets, and it seems likely that during future competitions one of these two companies will win about 60 percent of the national security launch contracts; the other will be left with 40 percent.

[tnt22]

Mission Profile: Atlas V Peregrine

United Launch Alliance

Опубликовано: 14 авг. 2017 г.

Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander will launch onboard a ULA launch vehicle in 2019, during the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. This effort is a big step in realizing Astrobotic's goal of creating a Rust Belt based international gateway to the Moon. The Peregrine Lunar Lander will fly 35 kilograms of customer payloads on its first mission, with the option to upgrade to 265 kilograms on future missions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncitbVZz1dkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncitbVZz1dk (1:50)

[Not]

Не выходит чаша!

Technical and funding challenges will force the Pentagon to rely on Russian-manufactured rocket engines at least through the middle of the next decade, several years longer than originally anticipated.

http://www.cetusnews.com/business/Pentagon-Faces-Delays-in-Shift-Away-From-Russian-Rocket-Engines-.S1e-n-p5Y-.html

[triage]

Оригинал без sms и прочего при переходе по этой ссылке https://www.facebook.com/wsj/posts/10156595286033128

.....
Despite bipartisan demands from Congress to quickly phase out the RD-180 engines on national-security grounds, it is proving harder than many lawmakers expected to secure an equally reliable domestic replacement. Government and industry officials said United Launch Alliance, the Pentagon's primary rocket provider, likely will continue flying some 1990s-vintage Atlas V boosters with Russian-built engines through 2024 or 2025.
Other people familiar with the details said United Launch—a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. —may have to extend the timeline as far out as 2028.
....
The outcome of that competition partly depends on how quickly United Launch is able to pivot away from the more expensive Atlas V and the RD-180 engines that power its lower stage.
...
Launches of Falcon 9 rockets built by SpaceX, as Mr. Musk's company is called, start at less than $83 million for the military, more than 40% below traditional United Launch prices.
The Boeing-Lockheed venture expects to have a new engine fully tested by 2019 and a replacement rocket, called Vulcan, certified to carry Pentagon payloads by 2022 or 2023. But a spokeswoman for United Launch said some Atlas V missions are slated to continue beyond that point, at least through "the mid-2020s," until Vulcan demonstrates its dependability.
....
The spokeswoman for the joint venture said it has 22 contracts for Atlas V launches, not all of which are military, and has "more than 30 engines" either on hand or in the pipeline from Russia, including a final batch of 18 that Congress approved last year. "We have enough engines to satisfy the potential national security space missions in the out years," she said.
...

[Чебурашка]

Бгг... я думаю им в конгрессе проведут сеанс катартической магии и заставят таки поторопиться

[Not]

Да там, в Конгрессе, то ли маги не те, то ли с магией проблемы. Как в той песенке - "сделать хотел грозу, а получил - козу".

[Salo]

http://tass.ru/kosmos/4531431

WSJ: США будут нуждаться в космических ракетных двигателях РФ до середины 2020-х годов
 
ТАСС, 4 сентября. США будут вынуждены использовать для запусков своих космических ракет российские двигатели РД-180 до середины 2020-х годов, сообщила газета Wall Street Journal со ссылкой на осведомленные источники в американской ракетной отрасли.

По данным издания, несмотря на желание Вашингтона поскорее отказаться от закупок ракетных двигателей из России, для разработки и подготовки к использованию альтернативных носителей производства США потребуется больше времени, чем предполагалось ранее.

Минобороны США будет закупать ракеты Atlas V, на которые устанавливаются РД-180, у компании United Launch Alliance до 2024 или 2025 года, отмечает издание, приводя данные некоторых из своих источников, согласно которым Пентагон может быть вынужден закупать ракеты с российским двигателями до 2028 года.

WSJ пишет, что United Launch Alliance намерено до 2019 года испытать новую ракету Vulcan, призванную прийти на смену Atlas V, и к 2022-2023 годам получить сертификат для проведения запусков новой ракеты. Но использование Atlas V продолжится до середины 2020-х, так как потребуется время, чтобы новая ракета доказала свою надежность, сообщили газете официальные представители United Launch Alliance.

Как поясняет газета, Пентагон хочет иметь ракеты двух типов для, чтобы гарантировать бесперебойность запусков. Альтернативными носителями могут быть новая, тяжелая версия ракеты Falcon 9 производства американской компании SpaceX либо тяжелая ракета, которую разрабатывает компания Blue Origin. Создание этих двух типов ракет сталкивается с техническими сложностями и займет дольше времени, чем предполагалось ранее, отмечает издание.

В United Launch Alliance сообщили газете о том, что у компании заключены 22 контракта с Пентагоном и другими заказчиками на проведение запусков с использованием ракет Atlas V и что она располагает более чем 30 двигателями РД-180, которые уже были поставлены либо будут получены из России. Но источники в американской космической отрасли сообщили WSJ, что США, возможно, должны будут дополнительно закупать ракетные двигатели у РФ.

Соглашение между Москвой и Вашингтоном, которое предусматривало поставки в США 101 двигателя РД-180 и оценивалось примерно в $1 млрд, было заключено в 1997 году. Ранее Конгресс из-за обострения отношений с РФ ввел запрет на использование двигателей после 2019 года, но затем отменил его, когда стало ясно, что свои двигатели в течение ближайших лет в США созданы не будут. Сразу же после этого консорциум ULA заказал у НПО "Энергомаш" дополнительно еще 20 РД-180 до 2020 года.

[triage]

http://tass.ru/kosmos/4531431

Более менее нормальный пересказ статьи по сравнению с другими. Бросается в глаза только 

Ранее Конгресс из-за обострения отношений с РФ ввел запрет на использование двигателей после 2019 года, но затем отменил его, когда стало ясно, что свои двигатели в течение ближайших лет в США созданы не будут.

ни для кого запрет и написав что своих двигателей в США нет....

Хотя как говорится найди различия

United Launch Alliance намерено до 2019 года испытать новую ракету Vulcan, призванную прийти на смену Atlas V, и к 2022-2023 годам получить сертификат для проведения запусков новой ракеты.

The Boeing-Lockheed venture expects to have a new engine fully tested by 2019 and a replacement rocket, called Vulcan, certified to carry Pentagon payloads by 2022 or 2023.

Ну и про это упустили журналисты ТАСС написав свою версию про двух конкурентов

Part of a Blue Origin rocket exploded on the ground earlier this year, delaying development of a new, methane-fueled engine the company plans to use itself and hopes to sell to United Launch. Blue Origin officials say they have duplicate hardware to alleviate testing delays.

[Salo]

Других экспертов у меня для Вас нет:
https://ria.ru/science/20170905/1501792901.html

"Ракета делается под двигатель, особенно это касается тяжелых ракет. Atlas V, где летает наш движок РД-180, — это тяжелая ракета. Нельзя заменить двигатель на другой какой-то американский, гораздо проще сделать новую ракету", — сказал Ионин РИА Новости.
По его словам, "судьба 180-го движка — это синоним судьбы ракеты Atlas V компании Lokheed Martin". Носитель создавался по заказу оборонного ведомства США, поэтому его вряд ли заменят в скором времени, считает эксперт.
"Пока ракета будет летать, двигатель будет закупаться. А судьба этой ракеты связана с планами NASA и Пентагона. Atlas V — это ракета, которая сделана не так, как у (Илона) Маска: захотели и сделали, а в рамках заказа НАСА и Пентагона, оплачена ими. У ведомств нет планов делать какую-либо ракету на замену Atlas V а значит, он будет летать, условно, до конца 20-х годов, и все это время будет закупаться двигатель, потому что заменить его просто невозможно", — пояснил Ионин.

[triage]

Он же

АниКей цитирует:

ria.ru США проще создать новую ракету, чем заменить РД-180, считает эксперт
МОСКВА, 5 сен — РИА Новости.
Российский ракетный двигатель РД-180 может поставляться в США до конца 2020-х годов, так как его замена потребует создания новой ракеты, а таких планов у Пентагона пока нет, считает член-корреспондент Российской академии космонавтики имени Циолковского Андрей Ионин.

WSJ тоже однобоко пишет, забывая конкурента Blue Origin

Salo пишет:
https://www.spaceintelreport.com/aerojet-rocketdyne-spacex-blue-origin-pension-plans/

Aerojet Rocketdyne: Do SpaceX and Blue Origin have pension plans?                   
 by Peter B. de Selding | Sep 1, 2017
 
 Aerojet Rocketdyne's business includes a joint-development partnership with the US Air Force to develop the AR-1 engine, competing with Blue Origin's BE-4 to replace Russia's RD-180 on Atlas 5 rockets; and the main and upper-stage engines on NASA's Space Launch System. SLS alone accounted for 16% of the company's revenue for the first six months of 2017. Credit: Aerojet Rocketdyne

[Сергей]

Все таки желание съэкономить бабки перевешивает желание вставить фитиль, несмотря на все финансовое превосходство - это по американски. Все таки для замены Атласа-5 больше подходит или Вулкан, или Нью Гленн - в обоих вариантах ВЕ-4 с учетом перспективы - смещение сроков вправо означает проблемы с отработкой ВЕ-4. ИМХО.