The US Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has allocated twelve FY23 National Security Space (NSS) launch bookings under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL)
Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract to SpaceX and to the United Launch Alliance.
Six Falcon 9 launch bookings were made to SpaceX to carry the following Space Development Agency (SDA) missions:
Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) missions T1TL-B, T1TL-C, T1TL-D and T1TL-E carrying relay satellites will be launched from Vandenberg on a Falcon 9 each (four launches)
Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TR) mission, T1TR-C, will be launched from Vandenberg, California, on a Falcon 9 (single launch).
Finally, the U.S. Space Force USSF-31 mission will be launched by a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (single launch)
Six other launch bookings were awarded to United Launch Alliance (ULA) to all be flown by the Vulcan launch vehicle:
Three of the Vulcan launches are for the SDA: Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TR) missions T1TR-B and T1TR-D, and the classified USSF-114 mission will be flown from Vandenberg (three launches).
Two of these are for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): NRO L-64 from Cape Canaveral and NRO L-83 from Vandenberg (two launches).
One is for the launch of the navigation satellite GPS III-08 from Cape Canaveral (single launch).
Apogeo Space takes ride in Vigoride…As Northstar taps Rocket Lab
The Italian firm Apogeo Space, following on from its FEES 1 and 2 prototype picosats in orbit, plans to deploy nine picosatsfrom the Vigoride tug on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-10 mission early next year. The satellites are part of an remote monitoring constellation.
NorthStar Earth and Space has signed a multi-launch deal with Rocket Lab to begin deployment of its space situational awareness (SSA) constellation. The first set of four satellites will be launched on a Rocket Lab Electron after September. Northstar had to change rides after its original planned Virgin Orbit launches (carrying three satellites each) were cancelled due to Virgin Orbit’s demise.
…While SpaceLogistics receives another Mission Extension Pod order from Intelsat
SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, received its second Mission Extension Pod order from Intelsat which previously held a booking for one. This will be the third Mission Extension Pod – a kind of jet pack control module attached to satellites to add up to six years of life to a satellite. The first was ordered by the Australian satellite operator Optus in April. The pods will be carried up to those spacecraft requiring them by the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) with these missions begining in 2025.
Lockheed Martin makes small sat launch booking with Firefly
Lockheed Martin has booked (June 29) a Firefly Alpha launch for a small Lockheed Martin technology demonstration spacecraft. The spacecraft/mission name and the date are undisclosed.
OroraTech orders eight more wildfire tracking sats from Spire
Wildfire tracking firm OroraTech has ordered eight more Forest-2 thermal imaging satellites from Spire Global which will build and operate the satellites for its wildfire tracking constellation.
