SpaceX received a $297 million firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver AFSPC-44, NROL-85, and NROL-87. ULA was awarded a $441.76 million firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver SBIRS GEO-5, SBIRS GEO-6, and SILENTBARKER.
WASHINGTON — The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center on Tuesday awarded two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for six Air Force Space Command and National Reconnaissance Office payloads.
SpaceX received a $297 million firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver AFSPC-44, NROL-85, and NROL-87 to their intended orbit. ULA was awarded a $441.76 million firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver SBIRS GEO-5, SBIRS GEO-6, and SILENTBARKER to the intended orbit.
NROL-85, NROL-87 and SILENTBARKER are NRO missions. The Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit SBIRS GEO-5, SBIRS GEO-6 and AFSPC-44 are Air Force satellites. The final request for proposals for these launches was released on Jan. 31, 2018 and proposals were due on April 16, 2018.
This is the sixth competition under the current Phase 1A EELV procurement.
• NROL-85 will launch in fiscal year 2021 from the Eastern Range.
• NROL-87 will launch in fiscal year 2021 from the Western Range
• SILENTBARKER will launch in fiscal year 2022 from the Eastern Range
• SBIRS GEO-5 will launch in fiscal year 2021 from the Eastern Range
• SBIRS GEO-6 is an option on the ULA contract with a possible launch in fiscal year 2022 from the Eastern Range
• AFSPC-44 will launch in fiscal year 2021 from the Eastern Range
“The competitive award of these EELV launch service contracts directly supports SMC’s mission of delivering resilient and affordable space capabilities to our nation while maintaining assured access to space,” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, SMC commander, and program executive officer for space, said in a statement. “Phase 1A continues to enable the space enterprise to respond to the rapidly evolving operating environment.”