Space Force looks at moving "significant number" of launches from ULA to SpaceX

The U.S. Space Force is considering a major shift of launch contracts from United Launch Alliance to SpaceX, prioritizing schedule readiness. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Space Force looks at moving "significant number" of launches from ULA to SpaceX

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The United States Space Force is actively exploring a plan to transfer a "significant number" of national security launch missions from the long-standing provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) to its rival, SpaceX. The potential shift, confirmed by service officials, is driven by a need to accelerate the deployment of critical satellites and is predicated on a simple, performance-based principle: "If the spacecraft is ready to go, that's going to give it a priority." This move signals a profound change in the Pentagon's approach to securing its access to space, moving away from assured, contracted capacity with a single provider and toward a more dynamic, competitive model that rewards proven launch tempo and reliability. The initiative stems from growing concerns over launch schedule delays that have left finished military satellites waiting on the ground. ULA, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has been the primary workhorse for national security launches for nearly two decades. However, its launch cadence has been constrained by a limited supply of rocket engines and ongoing development of its new Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is still completing its certification process for the most sensitive missions. In contrast, SpaceX has demonstrated an unprecedented launch rate with its reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, successfully launching its own Starlink constellation while also flying numerous government and commercial payloads. This proposed reallocation is not a termination of ULA's contracts but a strategic realignment within the framework of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 program. Under that $1.2 billion contract awarded in 2020, ULA and SpaceX were selected as the two providers to share launches through 2027, with ULA winning 60% of the missions and SpaceX 40%. The Space Force's current review focuses on missions scheduled for the latter years of that contract period. Officials emphasize that any changes would be made to optimize the overall manifest, ensuring that valuable spacecraft are not idled due to a lack of launch vehicle availability. The implications of such a shift are substantial for the industrial base....

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Categoria: cronaca