Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, ULA win Space Force contracts for rocket technology projects

by

Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle rendering. Credit: United Launch Alliance

The awards made by the Space Enterprise Consortium are for prototypes that will be jointly funded by the government and the contractors

WASHINGTON — Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance were selected to participate in technology development projects to advance rocket engine testing and launch vehicle upper stages, the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command announced Sept. 24.

The awards made by the Space Enterprise Consortium are for prototypes that will be jointly funded by the government and the contractors under partnerships known as OTAs, or other transaction authority.  The contracts were split between current national security launch providers SpaceX and ULA, and new entrants Blue Origin and Rocket Lab that are expected to compete in 2024 for the next round of national security launch service contracts. 

  • Blue Origin will receive $24.3 million for cryogenic fluid management for its New Glenn rocket’s second stage.
  • Rocket Lab gets $24.3 million for upper stage development of its future launch vehicle Neutron. 
  • SpaceX gets $14.4 million for testing technologies for its next-generation Raptor engine: rapid throttling and restart testing; liquid methane specification development and testing; and combustion stability analysis and testing.
  • ULA gets $24.3 million for uplink command and control for Centaur 5, the upper stage of the company’s new rocket Vulcan Centaur.

The SpEC consortium solicited proposals for these projects on May 11. 

“We are excited to partner with industry to advance transformational space access capabilities,” said Col. Rob Bongiovi, director of Space Systems Command’s Launch Enterprise.

The projects were funded with a $75 million appropriation that Congress added to the 2021 defense budget for next-generation engine testing and vehicle technologies. “This prototype effort will advance state-of-the-art in rocket engines, including new technologies to enable space access and mobility,” the SpEC consortium said. 

These are “orbital transfer prototype projects to improve space access capability for national security launch systems,” the SpEC said. “Anticipated benefits include reducing costs by allowing procurement of lower energy launch vehicle configurations, and improving mass-to-orbit capability” specially for trajectories beyond geosynchronous orbit.

Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
What You Need to Know About the FAA 5G Kerfuffle thumbnail

What You Need to Know About the FAA 5G Kerfuffle

Derek Smith’s method of mapping viral antigens was first used to track how flu strains were changing. James King-Holmes/Science Source Genetic sequencing gives researchers early clues about those changes, but only laboratory and clinical testing can indicate what they mean for the human immune system and current vaccines. To that end, scientists around the world…
Read More
NSF signs U.S.-India implementation arrangement to streamline the process of funding projects between the two nations thumbnail

NSF signs U.S.-India implementation arrangement to streamline the process of funding projects between the two nations

The U.S. National Science Foundation and India signed an implementation arrangement that streamlines the selection and funding process of research projects from scientists and engineers from the United States and India. India's Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Singh Sandhu, joined NSF officials in the signing ceremony held yesterday at the White House as part of the
Read More
This Super Bowl Sunday, Consider a Chili Cheese Bar thumbnail

This Super Bowl Sunday, Consider a Chili Cheese Bar

Photo: Brent Hofacker (Shutterstock)This Sunday, I will be watching the Super Bowl with my father for the first time in literally forever. We’ve watched a lot of football together, but almost all of it has been SEC games. Ironically, I will not be cooking anything. My dad told me my stepmom likes to make chili…
Read More
Ancient dog-headed statue found during Roman road excavation thumbnail

Ancient dog-headed statue found during Roman road excavation

Home News The canine figurine may have been a decorative structure for a tomb's rooftop. (Image credit: Italian Ministry of Culture) Archaeologists in Rome recently unearthed an ancient terracotta statue with a dog's head that was buried below an urban road. The statue, which is palm-size, shows a pointy-eared pup with long, wavy fur flowing…
Read More
How to Change Your “About Me” Information on Discord thumbnail

How to Change Your “About Me” Information on Discord

Discord profiles come with an “About Me” section (also called a bio) where you can add some information about yourself. Here’s how to add and edit these details from both your desktop and mobile phone. RELATED: 8 Ways to Personalize Your Discord Account What Can You Include in Discord’s “About Me” Section? Discord’s “About Me” section…
Read More
Poppyseed-sized nuclear fuel cells might power a NASA moon base thumbnail

Poppyseed-sized nuclear fuel cells might power a NASA moon base

Nuclear fuel cells the size of poppy seeds could power NASA’s Artemis lunar base once it begins operations around 2030. Designed by researchers at Bangor University’s Nuclear Futures Institute in the UK, the miniscule power source—dubbed “Trisofuel”—is intended to run on a micro nuclear generator roughly the size of a small car created by Rolls
Read More
Index Of News
Total
0
Share