Boeing Delta IV

The EELV program was designed to reduce the cost of government space launches through greater contractor competition, and modifiable rocket families whose system requirements emphasized simplicity, commonality, standardization, new applications of existing technology, streamlined manufacturing capabilities, and more efficient launch-site processing. Paradoxically, that very program may have forced the October 2006 merger of Boeing & Lockheed Martin’s rocket divisions.

Crosslink Magazine’s Winter 2004 article “EELV: The Next Stage of Space Launch” offers an excellent briefing that covers EELV’s program innovations and results, while a detailed National Taxpayer’s Union letter to Congress takes a much less positive view.

This DID Spotlight article looks at the contracts that have been placed since the merger was completed. The latest EELV contract is for over $100 million for MUOS-1 launch…

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Computer Sciences Raytheon received a contract for $816.2 million for Eastern Range Technical Services to provide operations, maintenance, sustainment of critical range and launch processing systems that support the launch processing mission of the 45th Space Wing and its launch customers at Cape Canaveral Air Station. CSR is a joint venture partnership of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) and Raytheon Technical Services Company, and they have held this contract since 1988. Cape Canaveral, meanwhile, is famous for being the home site of all NASA space launches; the 45th Space Wing is also busy with other projects.

The scope of this acquisition will include all critical range systems and associated support systems. Service include downrange facilities support, base and range local area network/metropolitan area network (LAN/MAN) service, and other minor technical systems support required for successful range mission accomplishment. At this time, all funds have been obligated. 45 CONS/LGCZR at Patrick Air Force Base FL issued the contract (FA2521-07-C-0011).

We’re not telling…
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The units of USAF Space Command have a wide range of functions, from supervising Space Shuttle launches to maintaining surveillance satellites and radars, operating America’s land-based nuclear missiles, and conducting ballistic missile defense.

Over the last couple of weeks, a number of contracts have been issued for various support services to these entities. We thought our readers might appreciate a look at several of these contracts at once, rather than just presenting them on a contract by contract basis.

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Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solution in Santa Maria, CA received a ten-year, $408 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. The contract covers follow-on engineering and operation services for the engineering, development, and sustainment of satellite operation complexes at Schriever Air Force Base, CO and Kirtland Air Force Base, NM, and will provide space range systems services at Camp Parks Communication Annex in Dublin, CA and deployed locations around the world.

This contract’s basic ordering period is four years and ten months, with five one-year options. The Air Force can issue delivery orders totaling up to the maximum amount, although the actual requirement may be less than that. Solicitation began September 2005; 24 firms were solicited and 3 firms submitted proposals. Negotiations were complete March 2006 by the Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA. (FA8818-06-D-0024-0001)

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Article pulled, pending revision.

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Test successful
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On Sept. 8, 2005, DID covered the evolution of DARPA’s FALCON program for low-cost, fast satellite launches. The goal is a booster that can launch a small satellite for less than $5 million with only 24 hours notice. On Sept. 29, 2005, AirLaunch LLC’s QuickReach system was successfully tested with a dummy booster that was live launched from a C-17 aircraft at 6,000 feet. AirLaunch LLC has now completed an $11.3 million contract under the Falcon program Phase IIA. If selected to move forward, the project would lead to a test flight to orbit in early 2008. See the full release for more details.

Here at DID, we applaud the innovation even as we wonder whether a similar approach could also be used by lesser powers to launch 2-stage ICBMs with INS/GPS guidance.

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The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA has issued a cost-plus award-fee contract modification to consolidate three vital logistical aerospace support services (Unconventional Propellant Support, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Services, Aerospace Ground Equipment Maintenance and Transient Aircraft Maintenance Services) into one comprehensive Operation and Maintenance service for the 30th Space Wing.

The 30th Space Wing is the Air Force Space Command organization responsible for all Department of Defense space and missile launch activities on the West Coast. All U.S. satellites destined for near polar orbit are launched from Vandenberg. The 30th is also home to the Western Launch and Test Range (WLTR), which extends westward all the way to the Marshall Islands, including sites in Hawaii.

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Atlas IIAS

The International Space Business Council today announced the release of the commercial for-fee publication 2005 State of the Space Industry. This is the 9th issue of the SBC’s report.

The report’s press release & highlights [PDF format] notes their findings that world turnover generated from commercial services and government programs reached $103 billion in 2004, and is forecast to exceed $158 billion in 2010. U.S. Defense spending on space has grown from around $15 billion in 2000 to more than $22 billion today and is forecast to reach $28 billion by 2010, though ITAR export restrictions are also cited as a serious competitive problem for U.S. industry. Meanwhile…

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Resourcesat-1

India is building up a satellite-based Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance System that will become operational by 2007, allowing it to keep watch on developments in its area. “The program is in the advanced stages of development and is planned to be operational by 2007,” Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Parliament recently.

The system was to be operational by 2005, but the defense minister said validation of technologies had taken more time than anticipated. While India’s procurement system has a reputation for being very risk-averse and missing deadlines most of the time, this sort of issue is not uncommon in American satellite programs either.

India has not launched any explicitly military satellites to date and the government remains tight-lipped, but experts believe the country has several options…

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