If you want to keep track of key Pentagon programs, Selected Acquisition Reports are an important resource. Shortly after the defense budget is submitted, the Pentagon releases details on major defense acquisition program cost, schedule, and performance changes on a periodic basis, summarizing the latest estimates of a major program’s cost, schedule, and technical status. Quarterly SARs are submitted for initial reports, final reports, and for programs that are rebaselined at major milestone decisions. Subsequent quarterly exception reports are required only for those programs experiencing unit cost increases of at least 15%, or schedule delays of at least 6 months.
Total program cost estimates provided in the SARs include research and development, procurement, military construction, and acquisition-related operation and maintenance (except for pre-Milestone B programs which are development costs only). Total program costs reflect actual costs to date, as well as future anticipated costs, and include anticipated inflation allowances.
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems, Missile Defense Division in San Bernardino, CA received an $8,.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to investigate a concept for a conventional ballistic missile capable of destroying targets at global range in less than one hour flight time. Northrop Grumman will deliver: (1) a delivery vehicle parametric design study, (2) a mission/program planning study. It will be interesting to see how the latency issues are addressed in NGC’s studies.
At this time, all funds have been obligated. Solicitations began April 2007, negotiations were complete May 2007, and work will be complete June 2009. The Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA (FA8814-07-C-0005).
After: BLU-108s
In order to make maximum use of existing system elements and reduce the cost and development risk associated with a future acquisition, Northrop Grumman will make use of Orbital’s Minotaur rocket, and a delivery vehicle designed to carry and dispense multiple BLU-108B/B sensor fused weapons to the target area. DID has covered these BLU-108 “cans of whup-ass” before; they’re tuna-can shaped explosively-formed penetrators (EFP) with millimeter-wave sensors that use parachutes to spread out in the air, then fire downward through the thin top-armor of enemy vehicles to kill those in their coverage area.
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are seeing more us these days in aerospace, replacing the nickel, chromium and titanium alloys historically used in high-temperature zones like rocket motors and turbine engine hot exhaust areas. In addition to their thermal protection, they can offer weight reductions of up to 50%. The GE/Rolls Royce F136 engine that serves as the F-35 Lightning II‘s “second engine” program uses Silicon Carbide CMCs, and the material is even being considered for naval and aircraft structures.
Aurora Flight Sciences recently announced that the company has received a grant from the West Virginia High Technology Consortium and NASA for the development of Laser Assisted Machining of Silicon Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) for Space Propulsion Structures…
Boeing Corp. in Huntington Beach, CA received a $49.5 million cost-plus-award fee contract modification for one Delta II Launch Vehicle in the standard 7925-9.5 configuration, used to launch the last GPS IIR satellite on the National launch Forecast. At this time, 50% ($24.75 million) of the funds have been obligated, and work will be complete September 2008. The Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA issued the contract (FA4701-93-C-0004/P00345).
The Delta II booster purchase includes a 1st stage, a 2nd stage, a payload attach fitting, a spin table, a 3rd stage motor, a 9.5 ft payload fairing, and 40 inch Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEMS); plus all integration activities.
In a January 2006 update to our original article covering the FALCON HTV hypersonic space plane, DID noted that the a Mach 15+ flight of HTV-1 was supposed to take place in September 2007. Now a Flight International article notes that changes in the FLACON program have led to a change in plans – and may affect the program as a whole.
DARPA and prime contractor Lockheed Martin have decided not to build and fly the two planned HTV-1 craft after subcontractor C-CAT experienced delamination problems with the curved leading edges of the carbon-based aeroshell. Instead, they have shifted efforts to a different HTV-2 design whose multi-piece aeroshell has thinner leading edges and will be easier to build because it’s less of a technical stretch. Meanwhile, thermal protection research will continue, as will research into the scramjet engines required. DID has updated our FALCON HTV anchor article to accommodate the resulting changes, add additional background, and cover a recent contract.
Orbital Technologies Corp. (Orbitec) in Madison, WI received a $24.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity with cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to help develop and commercialize Orbitec’s unique vortex rocket engine technology. It’s all part of the US Air Force integrated high payoff rocket propulsion technology program, and the space-based infrared system III (SBIRS III) program will attempt to integrate vortex engine propulsion technology with state-of-the art tank and feed system technology to demonstrate a cohesive universal small launch vehicle capability.
When most of us think of vortex technology, we think of vacuum cleaners. So why are vortex rocket engines so great, and what progress has been made so far?
ATK Space Systems Inc. in Clearfield, UT received a $21.7 million5 indefinite-quantity/ indefinite-delivery contract. It provides for the development and demonstration of automated composite production technologies, which may lead to enhanced design and manufacturing of cost-effective large composite structures for use on space launch vehicles. The technologies to be developed are intended to enable improved manufacturing scale, performance and reliability, while providing design flexibility and an improvement in costs for current and future space launch vehicles.
Solicitations began September 2005, negotiations were complete in June 2006, and work will be complete October 2011. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM issued the contract (FA9453-06-D-0368).
On Sept 8, 2005, DID noted that AirLaunch LLC would soon be negotiating with DARPA to begin negotiations for a development contract under the FALCON/Common Aero Vehicles program, which aims to launch small satellite payloads and possibly even hypersonic aircraft into space for less than $5 million, and on only 24 hours notice. This would give the USA a unique capability that could be extremely useful in crisis situations, and is one aspect of “operationally responsive space.”
One of the most innovative ideas is AirLaunch LLC’s QuickReach small satellite booster, which is launched by rolling it out the back of a C-17 transport plane…
“Boeing and the Department of Justice have reached a tentative settlement of investigations by U.S. Attorneys in Virginia and California regarding the Darleen Druyun and EELV matters. Under the agreement, Boeing will pay $565 million to resolve potential civil claims and a monetary penalty of $50 million. Boeing will accept responsibility for the conduct of its employees and make additional commitments regarding ongoing compliance. No charges will be filed. The agreement is expected to be signed in the next few weeks.”
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:
