NASA adds Starship to launch contract

SpaceX Starship Integrated into NASA Launch Services Contract

WASHINGTON — In a move underscoring the evolving landscape of space exploration, NASA has formally added SpaceX’s Starship to the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract. This contract serves as a pivotal mechanism for the agency to procure essential launch services for a multitude of its forthcoming missions. Despite this contractual inclusion, Starship, SpaceX’s next-generation vehicle, still requires considerable developmental progress before undertaking significant NASA missions.

NASA’s announcement on March 28 confirmed the incorporation of Starship into the NLS II contract framework. The NLS II contract is instrumental in NASA’s strategy for acquiring space launch capabilities to support a diverse portfolio of science and exploration initiatives.

Established SpaceX Vehicles and NLS II Framework

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets are already established components of the NLS II contract and have been routinely employed in recent years. A notable example includes the March 11 launch of NASA’s SPHEREx astrophysics spacecraft and the PUNCH space science mission, both of which were successfully deployed using a shared Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The NLS II roster also includes a range of vehicles from other providers, such as Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha, Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL, Rocket Lab’s Electron, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 and Vulcan Centaur.

Risk-Based Category System for NLS II Missions

The addition of Starship to the NLS II contract, while significant, does not automatically qualify it for all NASA mission opportunities. Given that Starship is yet to achieve orbital payload deployment, NASA’s NLS II framework employs a tiered categorization system based on risk assessment. This system assigns vehicles to one of three categories, determined by flight history, rigorous analysis, and oversight levels.

Category 1: High-Risk Vehicle Classification

Category 1 is reserved for ‘high-risk’ vehicles, encompassing those that have not yet completed their maiden flight. The utilization of Category 1 vehicles is limited to NASA missions designated as Class D. These missions are typically characterized as lower-cost endeavors with a correspondingly higher tolerance for potential risks.

Category 2: Medium-Risk Vehicle Designation

Category 2 applies to ‘medium-risk’ vehicles that have achieved between one and six consecutive successful launches. The precise number of launches is contingent on the depth of NASA’s analysis. This category primarily serves Class C missions, which exhibit a moderate risk tolerance, and is also applicable to Class D missions.

Category 3: Low-Risk Vehicle Certification

Category 3 is designated for ‘low-risk’ vehicles, requiring a demonstrable track record of three to fourteen successful launches. Vehicles in this category are eligible for all classes of NASA missions, including the most critical Class A missions. Examples of Class A missions with stringent risk requirements include the Europa Clipper and the Roman Space Telescope.

Starship’s Primary NASA Focus: Human Landing System for Artemis Program

Despite its inclusion in the NLS II contract, Starship’s primary near-term application for NASA will be within the Human Landing System (HLS) program. SpaceX is currently focused on developing a specialized lunar lander variant of Starship. This lunar lander is slated for utilization in the Artemis 3 and 4 crewed lunar landing missions, planned for later in the current decade, marking a significant step in returning humans to the Moon.

FCC Application for Starship Communication Spectrum

In support of these developmental efforts, SpaceX has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking authorization for communication operations with Starship. The FCC formally accepted this application for filing on March 27. SpaceX, in its application submitted in December, expressed its gratitude for NASA’s confidence in Starship. The company highlighted NASA’s reliance on the Starship launch vehicle, its upper stage variants – including tanker and depot configurations – and the Starship Human Landing System to advance NASA’s ambitious Artemis campaign. SpaceX’s FCC application requests essential spectrum resources to facilitate this critical national endeavor, support the deployment of next-generation satellites and crewed spacecraft, and sustain American leadership in spaceflight for the foreseeable future.

Orbital Parameters for Starship Operations Detailed in FCC Filing

While primarily concerned with frequency allocation for Starship communications in orbit and at the Moon, the FCC application provides additional operational details. Key orbital parameters include:

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Operations: Encompassing satellite launches and propellant transfer missions, these operations will occur at altitudes ranging from 181 to 381 kilometers, with inclinations between 0 and 90 degrees.
• Final Tanking Orbit for Lunar Missions: Designated for ‘secondary propellant transfer’ for crewed missions to the Moon, this orbit is specified at 281 by 34,534 kilometers. Perigee may vary by ±100 kilometers, while apogee can range from 10,534 to 150,534 kilometers. Inclination will be maintained between 28 and 33 degrees.
• Lunar Orbit Capabilities:
  • Low Lunar Orbit: Operations are planned for a circular orbit at 120 kilometers above the lunar surface.
  • Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO): Starship is also intended for operation in a near rectilinear halo orbit, at altitudes between 3,000 and 70,000 kilometers. NASA intends to utilize NRHO for Artemis missions, including deployments to the lunar Gateway space station.