By Rob Coppinger in London
Manufacturer renews efforts to break Boeing and Lockheed Martin dominance of launch market with Falcon 9
Space Exploration Technologies (Spacex) is to offer its proposed Falcon 9 launcher for NASA Launch Services (NLS). The Falcon 9 is a two-stage, liquid-oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene-powered vehicle capable of putting 9,300kg (20,500lb) into low-Earth orbit.
Falcon 9's first launch for the US government is planned for the first quarter of 2008. The NLS bid represents the second attempt by Spacex to break into the US government launch market dominated by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Spacex used competition law to challenge the formation of United Launch Alliance, a Boeing/Lockheed Martin joint venture to supply the US military with launch services, but failed because of the Falcon 9's early stage of development. The Falcon 9 is based on the Falcon 1, which is to fly again later this year. Its 31 March maiden flight ended when its engine shut down 29s into the ascent.
NLS released its request for proposals (RFP) on 31 July and Spacex confirms it "will be bidding". Bidders have until 31 August to submit proposals for what would be indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) task order contracts. The original NLS RFP was issued in 1999 and remains open for 10 years.
Each February and August during that time, or at any other point of NASA's choosing, the US government will accept proposals from new launch service providers for IDIQ contracts and proposals from existing contractors. To date IDIQ task order contracts have been placed with Boeing Delta Launch Services, Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services and Orbital Sciences.
Blog: Read Rob Coppinger's comments on SpaceX's recent problems with its Falcon1 rocket
Source: Flight International
