NASA has decided to end its use of the Boeing Delta II rocket for its unmanned missions and change the way it procures launch services despite price reductions offered by Boeing.
The move all but assures the final Delta II will come in 2009 with the end of the current 10-year NASA Launch Services (NLS) contracts cycle.
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© BoeingDelta II is capable of placing 2,200kg payloads into a geosynchronous transfer orbit and has launched successfully 74 times consecutively |
NASA is seeking launch options for non-International Space Station missions, and specifically payloads of up to 3,000kg (6,600lb) to 675km (420 miles) circular Sun-synchronous orbits (SSO).
The Delta II, capable of placing 2,200kg payloads into a geosynchronous transfer orbit and launched successfully 74 times consecutively, has previously undertaken the 675km SSO flight for science missions.
Delta II has been pushed out by NASA moves to rationalise its launch options. According to Boeing, Delta II unit costs have risen owing to the US Air Force ending its Navstar global positioning system launch contract and a 66% reduction in demand from NASA for its science mission requirements since the space agency became more focused on returning astronauts to the Moon.
In an early version of an internal statement given to Boeing employees, the company says: "We have already offered deep discounts in our pricing."
NASA associate administrator for space operations William Gerstenmaier says: "Delta II will be retired. We want to change the way we do that business [of procuring launches]. We are still interested in that class of payload."
The agency's 7 August request for information, primarily for ISS commercial resupply, also asks for non-ISS mission information to assist it in addressing its new "overall strategy for commercial space transportation services" and "acquisition planning for future procurements".
The agency has historically procured rockets for unmanned missions through its NLS contracts, the request for proposals (RFP)for which is left open for 10 years. The last RFP was issued on 18 October 1999. The 7 August RFP did not mention NLS.
During those 10 years companies have the opportunity every February and August, or when NASA requests them, to submit RFPs to try to win NLS Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) task order contracts.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences have all been awarded IDIQs.
Source: Flight International
