National Security Space Launch

The USAF began the EELV program in 1994, following many years of government-funded studies into improved systems and architecture. The intent was to replace legacy vehicles, including Delta II, Atlas II, and Titan IV. EELVs were to reduce costs by being based on standardized fairings, liquid core vehicles, upper stages, and solid rocket boosters. A Standard Payload Interface bus was also proposed as a way to save money and improve efficiency.

Reducing the cost of launches and ensuring national access to space were the two main goals of the USAF space launch/EELV program.[4] Some of the reasons why assured access to space is a priority for the United States are stated in National Presidential Directive Number 40, which reads:

Access to space through U.S. space transportation capabilities is essential to:

1. place critical United States Government assets and capabilities into space;
2. augment space-based capabilities in a timely manner in the event of increased operational needs or minimize disruptions due to on-orbit satellite failures, launch failures, or deliberate actions against U.S. space assets;
3. support government and commercial human space flight.

The United States, therefore, must maintain robust, responsive, and resilient U.S. space transportation capabilities to assure access to space.[5]

Procurement of EELV boosters for military space launch was to evolve to more closely match commercial practice.[6] The initial bids came from four major defense contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Alliant Techsystems. Each of the bids included a variety of concepts. Boeing initially proposed utilizing the RS-25 Space Shuttle main engine (SSME).[7] When McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997, the latter put forth the Delta IV as their EELV proposal. Both the Delta IV and Lockheed Martin's Atlas V eventually entered service.

In October 1998 two initial launch services contracts (known as Buy 1) were awarded. Along with the award of two development agreements, the total amount was more than $3 billion.[8] Boeing was awarded a contract for 19 out of the 28 launches; Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for the other 9. Boeing received $1.38 billion, and Lockheed Martin received $650 million for the launches.[9] Boeing and Lockheed Martin were both collectively awarded US$100 million for the final phase of the bid. Boeing developed the Delta IV based around Common Booster Cores (CBC) and the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage, while Lockheed Martin developed the Atlas V based around Common Core Boosters (CCB) and the Centaur upper stage.[8]

In 2003, Boeing was found to be in possession of proprietary documents from Lockheed Martin.[10] The USAF moved 7 launches from Delta IV to Atlas V.[11] To end litigation and competition for a limited market, both companies agreed to form the United Launch Alliance (ULA) joint venture.[12] Each company has a 50% stake in ULA.[13]

In December 2012, the DoD announced a re-opening of the EELV-class launch vehicle market to competition while authorizing the USAF to proceed with a block buy of "up to" 36 boosters from ULA. At the same time, another 14 boosters were to be procured competitively beginning in 2015, with the initial launches to be performed in 2017.[14]

The USAF signed a contract at that time with SpaceX for two launches in 2014 and 2015 to serve as proving flights to support the certification process for the Falcon 9 v1.1 and Falcon Heavy.[15] In April 2014, after the launches were contracted, SpaceX sued the United States Air Force,[16][17] arguing that the RD-180 engines, produced in Russia by the government owned NPO Energomash and used by the Atlas V, violated sanctions against the Russian government.[18] The USAF and SpaceX settled the lawsuit in Jan 2015 by opening up more launches to competitive bidding.[19][20] The USAF certified the Falcon 9 in May 2015,[21] and in 2016 SpaceX won a contract under the EELV program to launch a GPS Block III satellite payload to MEO.[22]

The USAF began the process of competitively selecting the next generation NSSL vehicles in 2018. Announced performance requirements include[23]:

Category A payloads fit within a 4 m payload envelope, category B payloads fit within a 5 m payload envelope, and category C payloads require an extended 5 m envelope.

The USAF and United States Space Force (USSF) plans to use the next generation NSSL launch vehicles until at least 2030. At least one program was considering follow-on technologies before cancellation in 2012.[24][25][26]

Atlas V liftoff from SLC-41

Each Atlas V launch vehicle is based on a Common Core Booster powered by one NPO Energomash RD-180 engine with two combustion chambers and a Centaur upper stage powered by one or two Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10A-4-2 engines. Up to five Aerojet Rocketdyne Graphite-Epoxy Motor solid rocket boosters can be added to increase vehicle performance, and two diameters of payload fairing are available.

A three-digit (XYZ) naming convention is used for the Atlas V configuration identification. An Atlas V XYZ will have a 4.2- or 5.4-meter diameter payload fairing (X= 4 or 5), Y solid rocket boosters (0-5), and Z RL-10's on the Centaur upper stage (1-2). As an example, an Atlas V 551 has a 5.4 m PLF, 5 SRBs, and 1 RL-10.

Each Delta IV launch vehicle is based on a Common Booster Core (CBC) powered by a Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 engine and a Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS) powered by an RL10. Delta IV Heavy is distinguished by two additional CBCs and always flies with a 5 m DCSS and PLF, while Delta IV Medium flew with two or four SRBs on a single CBC.[27]

The DCSS had 4 m diameter and 5 m diameter versions, with matching diameter payload fairings (PLFs). Delta IV CBCs and DCSSs are integrated horizontally before being transported to the launchpad. The 4 m diameter DCSS was retired with the Delta IV Medium after the 22 August 2019 launch of a GPS-IIIA satellite on a Delta IV M+(4,2) with one CBC, two SRBs, and a 4 m diameter DCSS and PLF.

Falcon 9 liftoff from SLC-4E

The main features of the Falcon 9 in its current Block 5 version include two stages, both powered by LOX and RP-1, with nine Merlin 1D engines on the first stage and one Merlin 1D Vacuum engine on the second stage.

GPS-IIIA USA-289 was the first NSSL-type B5 Falcon 9 launch. The launch occurred on December 23, 2018.[28]

The Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift rocket developed and produced by SpaceX. It has been certified for the NSSL program after the STP-2 launch completed on 25 June 2019, as confirmed by the commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. Gen. Thompson.[29] He clarified: "I certified them to compete last year" and "[o]ne of the requirements behind certification is to fly three missions." This requirement has been satisfied by the Falcon Heavy test flight in February 2018, Arabsat-6A in April 2019, and the STP-2 launch in June 2019. However, Falcon Heavy has been certified for two Phase 1A reference orbits only and "[i]t's not certified for all of our most stressing national security space orbits," Thompson said.[30] Thus, the USAF is working with SpaceX to mature their Falcon Heavy's design.

As of September 2019, it has two manifested classified national security flights for the USAF in 2020 and 2021.[31][32][33]

As of 2018, a competitive contract award to launch national security spacecraft is underway between ULA, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS), Blue Origin, and SpaceX. Two providers will be selected to launch spacecraft to a number of reference orbits. In October 2018, the USAF awarded funding to ULA, NGIS, and Blue Origin to further the design of their rockets before a subsequent competition for award to build the launch vehicles:[34]

On 12 August 2019, at least three of the four companies submitted their final bids for the launch services competition. SpaceX bid the existing launch vehicles, while Blue Origin was expected to bid New Glenn, ULA bid Vulcan Centaur, and NGIS's bid status was not reported. Blue Origin also filed a pre-award protest of the request for proposal arguing that the requirements were ambiguous.[35]

Blue Origin was awarded $500 million for development of New Glenn as a potential competitor in future contracts.[34] As of 2019, New Glenn was expected to first launch in 2021.

OmegA is a rocket design by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems with two main solid stages, a cryogenic upper stage, and the possibility of strap-on boosters. The first flight is expected in 2021.[36]

ULA was awarded phase 1 funding for development of Vulcan as a potential competitor in future contracts.[37] On 12 August 2019, ULA submitted Vulcan Centaur for phase 2 of the USAF's launch services competition. As of that time, Vulcan Centaur was on track for a 2021 launch.[38]