Tweet
NASA's new rocket fleet
NASA has selected their new rocket fleet for unmanned missions. Each provider gets part of NASA's Launch Services II contract, which replaces the NLS-I contract that's expired. The new contract has a total value of $15 Billion.
The fleet will consist of:
United Launch Alliance (ULA): Atlas V, which can orbit up to ~20,000 kg, though most of the big ones are used to put up to 8,672 kg satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits. A Heavy version is still a PowerPoint project.
(Interestingly, their Delta II and Delta IV rockets are not part of the contract, though they could be used on a per-mission basis if required)
SpaceX: Falcon 1e & Falcon 9. Falcon Ie can orbit payloads up to 1,010 kg and Falcon 9 up to 10,450 kg. They already have a $1.6 Billion contract to resupply the ISS using the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft.
(Falcon 9 Heavy @32,000 kg & Falcon 9 Heavy H @ ~45,000 kg could be added as they become operational, and they aren't PowerPoints - being based on 3 attached Falcon 9 common cores and, in the case of Heavy H, the Raptor hydrogen 2nd stage now in active development)
Orbital Sciences: Pegasus XL & Taurus XL. Pegasus is a small satellite (443 kg) launcher released from below the wing of an aircraft. Taurus is a 4 stage solid fueled rocket based on Pegasus that can launch up 1,350 kg. They too have an ISS resupply contract using their Taurus II rocket (7,000 kg) and Cygnus spacecraft, which is smaller than Dragon and has no ability to return cargo. Cygnus doesn't fly for a year.
Lockheed Martin: Athena 1 (820 kg) & Athena 2 (2,065 kg). After years of inactivity they are back due to a partnership between LockMart and ATK, the makers of the shuttle SRB's. Athena I is a 3 stage: 2 solids and a liquid mono-propellant. Athena II is a 4 stage: 3 solids and a liquid mono-propellant. Mono's use a single liquid + a catalyst. The most common combo is hydrazine with an alumina/iridium catalyst.
The fleet will consist of:
United Launch Alliance (ULA): Atlas V, which can orbit up to ~20,000 kg, though most of the big ones are used to put up to 8,672 kg satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits. A Heavy version is still a PowerPoint project.
(Interestingly, their Delta II and Delta IV rockets are not part of the contract, though they could be used on a per-mission basis if required)
SpaceX: Falcon 1e & Falcon 9. Falcon Ie can orbit payloads up to 1,010 kg and Falcon 9 up to 10,450 kg. They already have a $1.6 Billion contract to resupply the ISS using the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft.
(Falcon 9 Heavy @32,000 kg & Falcon 9 Heavy H @ ~45,000 kg could be added as they become operational, and they aren't PowerPoints - being based on 3 attached Falcon 9 common cores and, in the case of Heavy H, the Raptor hydrogen 2nd stage now in active development)
Orbital Sciences: Pegasus XL & Taurus XL. Pegasus is a small satellite (443 kg) launcher released from below the wing of an aircraft. Taurus is a 4 stage solid fueled rocket based on Pegasus that can launch up 1,350 kg. They too have an ISS resupply contract using their Taurus II rocket (7,000 kg) and Cygnus spacecraft, which is smaller than Dragon and has no ability to return cargo. Cygnus doesn't fly for a year.
Lockheed Martin: Athena 1 (820 kg) & Athena 2 (2,065 kg). After years of inactivity they are back due to a partnership between LockMart and ATK, the makers of the shuttle SRB's. Athena I is a 3 stage: 2 solids and a liquid mono-propellant. Athena II is a 4 stage: 3 solids and a liquid mono-propellant. Mono's use a single liquid + a catalyst. The most common combo is hydrazine with an alumina/iridium catalyst.