ULA’s Vulcan Rocket Costs Rise as Pentagon Announces New launch Contracts
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – October 27, 2023 – New Pentagon contract figures released Friday reveal increasing costs for United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket, even as the Space Force continues to award the company launch missions alongside SpaceX. The awards,representing the second batch of NSSL Phase 3 missions,demonstrate a growing reliance on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy for demanding government payloads.
The contracts underscore the economic realities of government space launches, which differ significantly from commercial pricing due to built-in oversight, security measures, and prioritized scheduling.While specific dollar amounts for the new missions weren’t disclosed,the increasing frequency of Falcon Heavy assignments – four out of five awarded to SpaceX – and the configuration of ULA’s Vulcan rockets suggest a shift in cost-benefit analysis within the Space Force.
The Space Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, and NASA pay a premium for assured access to space, foregoing commercial insurance in favor of direct oversight including inspections, flight data reviews, risk assessments, and security checks. This, coupled with priority scheduling, contributes to higher overall costs.
Four of the five launches awarded to SpaceX will utilize the Falcon Heavy, according to Lt. Col. Kristina Stewart at Space Systems Command, with one mission assigned to the Falcon 9. This marks the first time a majority of the Space Force’s annual launch orders have required the Falcon Heavy’s ample lift capacity. All Vulcan configurations employ a single core booster, augmented by varying numbers of solid rocket motors.
Here’s a breakdown of the seven new missions assigned to SpaceX and ULA:
* USSF-149: Classified payload on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Florida
* USSF-63: Classified payload on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Florida
* USSF-155: Classified payload SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Florida
* USSF-205: WGS-12 communications satellite on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Florida
* NROL-86: Classified payload on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Florida
* USSF-88: GPS IIIF-4 navigation satellite on a ULA vulcan VC2S (two solid rocket boosters) from Florida
* NROL-88: Classified payload on a ULA Vulcan VC4S (four solid rocket boosters) from Florida
