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SpaceNews reports that the US Air Force will award United Launch Alliance a contract to build two Delta 4 Heavy rockets for National Reconnaissance Office missions. The award comes without competitive bidding (think SpaceX).
The announcement comes as the Air Force is working to re-introduce competition into the national security launch industry. In April, SpaceX won the first of nine launch contracts the Defense Department intends to put out for bid in the next three years.
But in this case, in a pre-solicitation notice posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website Aug. 4, the Air Force said it opted for a sole-source contract for classified National Reconnaissance Office missions slated to launch in 2020 and 2023. The NRO builds and operates the country's spy satellites.
The Air Force said it chose ULA due to the timing and complexity of the integration of the satellites to the rockets, unique requirements, and the need to have a certified launch vehicle by the award date.
ULA is "currently the only responsible source," the notice said.
Conventional wisdom is that the ULA Delta 4 Heavy rocket is a competitor for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket in these types of launches.
But SpaceX, which sued the Air Force in federal court in 2014 for the right to compete for national security missions, said it understood the Air Force's decision.
"These particular missions had very specific technical requirements," John Taylor, a SpaceX spokesman said in an email to SpaceNews. "We worked closely with the DoD and the USAF on this action and decided jointly it was the right approach."
Based on a previous statement by ULA that a Delta 4 Heavy rocket costs around $350 million (US), it's reasonable to assume that the value of the contract is at least roughly $700 million (US).
(Score: 4, Insightful) by frojack on Tuesday August 09 2016, @01:14AM
If SpaceX isn't bitching about this sole source they must have a reason.
Vehicles all booked that far ahead?
Size requirements of the payload?
Expected Trajectory difficult for SpaceX for some reason?
Need a vehicle (or two) on stand by 24/7 with launch crew on site?
Need to launch from a site SpaceX isn't located at, or familiar with?
STFU or you never get another Air Force contract?
Apparently SpaceX is content to let ULA have this mission without any grousing.
Other than the possibility of saving some money (yeah, right) I can't see why I should be concerned if the competitors aren't.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday August 09 2016, @01:35AM
Of course I'm not a rocket scientist, but my guess is, some technical bit can't be met by SpaceX vehicles - YET. Your final suggestion may be on target though. Government coercion works pretty effectively.
(Score: 5, Informative) by compro01 on Tuesday August 09 2016, @02:19AM
Size requirements of the payload?
This is almost certainly the reason. The NRO's KH-11 reconnaissance satellites are about 19.5m long. The Falcon 9's payload fairing is only 13m long, whereas the the Delta IV Heavy has fairings up to 19.8m available.
(Score: 5, Informative) by gman003 on Tuesday August 09 2016, @04:37AM
It might also just be too heavy - Delta IV Heavy has a payload capacity about 30% higher than the current Falcon 9. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which should vastly out-perform Delta IV Heavy, has not yet flown, and the Air Force has some pretty stringent certification processes.
If only one vendor has a currently-certified lift vehicle capable of the mission, skipping the bid process is completely reasonable and fair. I would expect, however, that once Falcon Heavy has flown and been certified, that the Air Force once again accepts bids for such missions. First flight is expected December of this year... based on how long it took Falcon 9 to become certified, it will probably be 2018 at the very earliest before SpaceX can compete in all heavy-lift payloads.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 09 2016, @04:15PM
It ain't heavy, it's my rocket!
Sorry.