Oct 31, 2023 06:54 PM
Of the 21 launch contracts, 11 go to ULA and 10 to SpaceX
The 11 missions assigned to United Launch Alliance (ULA) are: GPS III-9, NROL-73, NROL-56, STP-5, SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118, GPS IIIF-1, NROL-100, USSF-95, NROL-109, SDA T2TL-B, and USSF-25.
The 10 missions assigned to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) are: SDA T1TL-F, SDA T1TR-A, USSF-57, NROL-77, SDA T1TR-E, GPS III-10, USSF-75, SDA T2TL-A, SDA T2TL-C, and USSF-70.
The GPS launches are replacement Global Positioning System satellites.
The NROL launches are spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office, the Silentbarker2/NROL-118 launch is for a satellite to observe other satellites.
The SDA T1TL and SDA T1TR launches are for low-latency military communications satellites.
The USSF launches are a variety of different classified US Space Force things. Four of the five are speculated to be satellites to detect the boost phase of rocket launches around the world.
USSF-25 is believed to be the really interesting one. It's speculated to be a test of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) prototype of their Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cis-Lunar Operations (DRACO), an experimental nuclear-thermal rocket.
ULA seems to be planning to use their brand new Vulcan rocket for their launches, while SpaceX will use Falcon9s and Falcon Heavys as appropriate for the payload and desired orbits.
The 11 missions assigned to United Launch Alliance (ULA) are: GPS III-9, NROL-73, NROL-56, STP-5, SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118, GPS IIIF-1, NROL-100, USSF-95, NROL-109, SDA T2TL-B, and USSF-25.
The 10 missions assigned to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) are: SDA T1TL-F, SDA T1TR-A, USSF-57, NROL-77, SDA T1TR-E, GPS III-10, USSF-75, SDA T2TL-A, SDA T2TL-C, and USSF-70.
The GPS launches are replacement Global Positioning System satellites.
The NROL launches are spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office, the Silentbarker2/NROL-118 launch is for a satellite to observe other satellites.
The SDA T1TL and SDA T1TR launches are for low-latency military communications satellites.
The USSF launches are a variety of different classified US Space Force things. Four of the five are speculated to be satellites to detect the boost phase of rocket launches around the world.
USSF-25 is believed to be the really interesting one. It's speculated to be a test of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) prototype of their Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cis-Lunar Operations (DRACO), an experimental nuclear-thermal rocket.
ULA seems to be planning to use their brand new Vulcan rocket for their launches, while SpaceX will use Falcon9s and Falcon Heavys as appropriate for the payload and desired orbits.