Launch providers Orbital ATK, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada Corporation have won multibillion dollar contracts to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
NASA has tasked each firm to perform at least six resupply missions under the commercial resupply services (CRS-2) contracts, which have a maximum value of US$14bn, although the amount paid will be considerably lower than this.
Launch providers Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), SpaceX and Sierra Nevada Corporation have won multibillion dollar contracts to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
NASA has tasked each firm to perform at least six resupply missions under the commercial resupply services (CRS-2) contracts, which have a maximum value of US$14bn, although the amount paid will be considerably lower than this.
The US space agency has agreed fixed-price menus with the companies, and has the option to choose a variety of different missions at different price points.
For its part, Orbital ATK expects the value of its six-mission contract to be between US$1.2bn and US$1.5bn. SpaceX and SNC did not disclose how much their contracts were worth to them.
Orbital ATK and SpaceX have been carrying out cargo missions for NASA for a number of years, winning the first CRS contracts in 2008 following the retirement of the Space Shuttle programme. Those contracts were extended last year.
That Orbital ATK and SpaceX both won CRS-2 contracts is not a surprise, despite both having launch failures when lofting NASA cargo in the past 18 months. The award of a contract to SNC, however, was not a given, with Raymond James analyst Chris Quilty describing the firm as “undoubtedly the darkhorse candidate” in the process.
NASA officials were cited as saying that one of the reason’s SNC’s shuttle-style Dream Chaser vehicle was selected was its ability to return cargo from the ISS quickly. Its dissimilarity to SpaceX and Orbital ATK’s rockets was also given as a reason, offering NASA an alternative third launch option. Lastly, NASA staff said supporting SNC would help foster a “LEO economy”, which could be beneficial to both the space agency and the US economy.
SNC president Eren Ozmen said her company was honoured by the award.
“In such a major competition, we are truly humbled by the show of confidence in SNC and look forward to successfully demonstrating the extensive capabilities of the Dream Chaser spacecraft to the world,” she said. “SNC’s receipt of this award is an American dream come true for all of us.”
The three CRS-2 contracts run from 2019 to 2024, with NASA retaining the option to award further missions later in the contract depending on the requirements of the ISS.
Orbital ATK said its missions would either be launched with its Antares rocket or United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V. Antares has been grounded since October 2014 when it suffered a failure while launching a CRS mission for NASA.
The company has since abandoned using the AJ-26 engine – believed to be the cause of that failure – and is repurposing the Antares to be powered by the Russian-made RD-181 engine. Scott Lehr, president of Orbital ATK’s flight systems group, said the company is “on schedule for Antares launches to resume in the second quarter of 2016”.
Air Force awards contracts to rocket makers
This week also saw the United States Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center award contracts to Orbital ATK and SpaceX to pioneer new propulsion system prototypes, as the US looks to end its dependency on the Russian-made engines for national security launches.
Limitations on the RD-180 engine for national security launches was recently lifted, with United Launch Alliance taking the opportunity to order another batch of the engines, but their use remains controversial and even ULA wants to find a US-made alternative.
Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, the Air Force’s programme executive officer for space and SMC commander, said: “Having two or more domestic, commercially viable launch providers that also meet national security space requirements is our end goal.
“These awards are essential in order to solidify US assured access to space, transition the EELV programme away from strategic foreign reliance, and support the US launch industry’s commercial viability in the global market.”
Orbital ATK has been awarded an initial US$46.9m to develop a solid rocket propulsion system prototype, and there are options in the agreement which could raise the government’s total investment to US$180m.
Orbital ATK is investing an initial US$31.1m into the project and its total investment could rise to US$125m.
SpaceX has been awarded an initial US$33.7m to develop the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype and will contribute US$67.3m to the public-private partnership. The total contributed by SpaceX could rise to US$123m, while the Air Force’s contribution could hit US$61.4m.
