Firms secure space launch service contracts

The Space and Missile Systems Center and the National Reconnaissance Office announced this week that United Launch Alliance LLC and SpaceX garnered National Security Space launch (NSSL) service contracts.

The Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite Delivery Requirement pacts add to savings the NSSL program has achieved since the 2013 Phase 1 Block Buy award, noting the total life cycle cost reduction since the February 2013 program rebaseline stands at $22 billion.

“This is culminating years of strategic planning and effort by the Department of the Air Force, NRO and our launch service industry partners,” William Roper, assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said. “Maintaining a competitive launch market, servicing both government and commercial customers, is how we encourage continued innovation on assured access to space.”

Roper said the awards mark a new epoch of space launch transitioning the Department from Russian RD-180 engines.

The NSSL program has returned $7 billion in procurement funds to the Department of the Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office, enabling the funding of additional capabilities.

“This landmark award begins the dawn of a new decade in U.S. launch innovation while promoting competition, maintaining a healthy industrial base and reinforcing our global competitive advantage,” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander of SMC and program executive officer for Space, said. “This acquisition will maintain our unprecedented mission success record, transition National Security Space payloads to new launch vehicles, assure access for current and future space architectures, and cultivate innovative mission assurance practices.”

The Space and Missile Systems Center is located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif. It serves as the U.S. Space Force’s center of acquisition for acquiring and developing military space systems.