Falcon-1 Launch Failure: SpaceX’s Preliminary Analysis

Falcon-1: first launch
(click to see problem)

DID covered the SpaceX’s Falcon-1 and its inaugural launch failure this Monday, as well as the programs impacted by its failure. Now SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has stepped up with a preliminary analysis of what happened:

“The good news is that all vehicle systems, including the main engine, thrust vector control, structures, avionics, software, guidance algorithm, etc. were picture perfect. However, at T+25s, a fuel leak of currently unknown origin caused a fire around the top of the main engine that cut into the first stage helium pneumatic system. On high resolution imagery, the fire is clearly visible within seconds after liftoff. Once the pneumatic pressure decayed below a critical value, the spring return safety function of the pre-valves forced them closed, shutting down the main engine at T+29s. It does not appear as though the first stage insulation played a negative role, nor are any other vehicle anomalies apparent from either the telemetry or imaging.”

Note that a formal, comprehensive investigation by SpaceX and the U.S. government will follow. Musk adds:

$65M to Give JASSMs Dynamic Targeting and Reporting via Data Link

JASSM with F-16

The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (AGM-158 JASSM) semi-stealth cruise missile’s faced development troubles in 2005. Its 2006 budgetary allocations were $67 million for continued research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E), and another $98.7 million for procurement of 75 missiles plus support. More recently Australia selected it while an $80 million USAF contract was awarded for Lot 5 unit production of 70 missiles plus support and minor R&D activities.

One missing element was a weapon datalink to allow in-flight updates of the missile status and targeting, plus the transmission of weapon position data up to the time of impact. This is currently present in the USA’s Tactical Tomahawk Block IV and the Navy’s SLAM-ER, but not in JASSM or in competing stealthy cruise missiles like the Taurus 350 or MBDA Storm Shadow. That’s about to change…

$73.25M to Upgrade EA-6B Prowlers with ALQ-218 Jamming Pods

We had to bomb Vietnam
flying through 10″ of rain…

We couldn’t resist this bit of writing from Military.com SoldierTech’s EA-18G description, covering the existing EA-6B Prowler tactical jamming aircraft:

“The aging Prowler has been in service for 40 years — and it shows — the Prowler is unable to keep up with newer strike aircraft. Chugging along at .72 Mach, it is significantly slower than the fleet aircraft it’s meant to protect, like an elderly grandfather on Halloween escorting trick-or-treaters on a sugar high.”

Well, chug a few espresso, grandpa, because until the EA-18Gs show up, you’re the only tactical jamming aircraft America has got. Make that $73.25 million worth of espresso, via an FY 2006 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Bethpage, N.Y. for AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receivers. How many does that cover? What do those do?

Modernizing US MILSATCOM Control: CCS-C Takes Another Step Forward

AEHF concept

Integral Systems, Inc. in Lanham, MD received a $21.5 million cost-plus award-fee, firm-fixed-price contract modification to modify the Command and Control System-Consolidated (CCS-C) effort to support the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite program. As a Crosslink Magazine article referenced in DID’s comprehensive roundup of the USA’s future SATCOM architecture notes, The CCS-C is the integrated command and control system being developed to support all US military satellite communications satellite constellations, both current and future. It will replace the current command and control functions of the Air Force Satellite Control Network, and began operations with existing Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS III) and MilStar satellites on Dec 15, 2005. See also this case study re: automated conversion of code to C++ as part of this effort.

This action will consolidate all CCS-C efforts for AEHF Satellite Vehicles 1, and 2, and 3 as a cost saving measure. The CCS-C program will eventually encompass the Defense Satellite Communication System, the Milstar series, the Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation, and Wideband Gapfiller Satellites. The scheduled completion date is June 2010 under the contract issued by the Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA (F04701-01-C-0012-P00088).

$11.4M to Aerojet for “Innovative Post-Boost Propulsion Concepts”

Aerojet-General Corp. in Sacramento, CA received an $11.4 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification to evaluate, develop, and demonstrate “innovative post boost propulsion concepts.” It exercises option 1 of the Phase II baseline program for research and development to and component technologies to support the Minuteman III nuclear missiles. The scheduled completion date is June 2008. The Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the cotract (FA8402-05-C-0036-P00002).

Fuel & Energy Issues Continue to Get Spotlight in US Military

Sticker shock

Following our reports today covering the USA’s recent purchase of $3.15 billion worth of various fuels and almost $230 million worth of electricity over the past week, it seems like a fuller picture is in order. A CNN online article notes that according to the Defense Energy Support Center, the U.S. military consumed 144.8 million barrels of fuel in 2004, spending $6.7 billion. In 2005, it consumed only 128.3 million barrels, but spent $8.8 billion. For 2006, the energy support center estimates the military will need 130.6 million barrels and pay more than $10 billion.

Fears of shortages after Hurricane Katrina gave the issue even more urgency, and set in motion a cascade of events from Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England’s September 2005 fuel conservation memo, to by a December 2005 directive asking all defense facilities to cut their energy consumption and increase the use of renewable energy sources. The goal is reduce energy consumption by 2% each year, while increasing renewable energy use to 7.5% of total demand by 2013 and 25% by 2025.

B-52H: gas guzzler

There are certain to be procurement-related implications from these moves up and down he chain. Re-engining the USA’s 1950s-era B-52 bombers was previously dismissed as not worth it, but odds are pretty good that it will happen in the new climate. DID’s March 17, 2006 “Energy Conservation Moving Up Pentagon’s Agenda” article describes a number of other initiatives that are already underway, excerpts and links to a key report from the US Army Corps of Engineers covering future military sustainability, and offers (updated) information about the Pentagon’s upcoming inter-agency Energy Conversation events at the end. We enjoyed seeing Rep. Bartlett’s [R-MD] office quote and reference that article in the invitation to former CIA director R. James Woolsey’s upcoming talk.

$3.15B in US DESC Fuel Contracts Over the Past Week

As DID noted in its March 17 article “Energy Conservation Moving Up Pentagon’s Agenda,” the truth is that the military can’t live without fuel, but every gallon of it is both a logistics burden and a financial burden.

Over the past week, the US Defense Logistics Agency has announced approximately $3.15 billion worth of fuel contracts for jet fuel, diesel, naval distillate, and turbine fuel via the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) at Fort Belvoir, VA. The totals include $2.1 billion for diesel and jet fuel, $1.01 billion for turbine fuel, and $35.7 million for naval distillate. DID covers these contracts below:

$228.3M in Electricity Contracts for MD and NJ Facilities

Electricity isn’t often thought of as a major buy item for the US military, but firm-fixed-price contracts for electrical power over the past week have totaled about $228.3 million, and covered only locations in MD and NJ. There were 79 proposals solicited by the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) in Fort Belvoir, VA, and 15 responded. Customers for these contracts include the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies; and the date of performance completion is December 31, 2007.

Contract winners included:

Falcon-1 Rocket Fails After Launch

Falcon-1 rocket

The inaugural flight of SpaceX’s two-stage Falcon-1 rocket ended in failure on Friday, as the rocket and its satellite payload was lost just after liftoff. SpaceX had launched the two-stage Falcon 1 rocket at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) from the U.S. military’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site, located on Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific’s Marshall Islands. Webcast video from the rocket appeared to show a rolling motion before the feed was lost, but a precise analysis of the problem is not yet available. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk promised that “more information will be posted once we have had time to analyze the problem.”

The rocket was expected to deploy the small, $800,000 FalconSat-2 micro-satellite built by U.S. Air Force Academy. The little satellite cube was sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and was designed to measure the effects of space plasma on communication and global positioning satellites.

The mission as a whole carried a $6.7 million price tag. It also had larger significance to the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation as part of their “Operationally Responsive Space” plans, and for DARPA’s larger F.A.L.C.O.N. program. Low-cost launch success by SpaceX could even have implications for the larger rocket launch market. The goal remains within reach, but the failure of the inaugural launch is definitely a setback for all concerned.

USAF’s 25-Year Take on UAV Operations & Management

Desert Hawk UAV

DID covered the U.S. Defense Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Planning Task Force’s “Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2005-2030” back in August 2005. The US Air Force did not get the full authority over UAVs that it wanted, but it has recently completed a vision document focused on UAV operations and management.

“The U.S. Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Strategic Vision” [USAF release | PDF format] is not directive in nature. Instead, it lays out a broad vision and provides recommendations. These include developing common terminology, adequately funding relevant science and technology, coordinating efforts with other services, managing cost and performance expectations, reviewing and updating laws and policies, and integrating unmanned aircraft with manned and space platforms. The new strategic vision document also addresses the historical context of UAVs, the unique attributes of the aircraft, and the various challenges in fielding them.