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N AS a Facts National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA’s Launch Services Program he Launch Services Program (LSP) manufacturing, launch operations and rockets for launching Earth-orbit and Twas established at Kennedy Space countdown management, and providing interplanetary missions. Center for NASA’s acquisition and added quality and mission assurance in In September 2010, NASA’s Launch program management of expendable lieu of the requirement for the launch Services (NLS) contract was extended launch vehicle (ELV) missions. A skillful service provider to obtain a commercial by the agency for 10 years, through NASA/contractor team is in place to launch license. 2020, with the award of four indefinite meet the mission of the Launch Ser- Primary launch sites are Cape Canav- delivery/indefinite quantity contracts. The vices Program, which exists to provide eral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida, expendable launch vehicles that NASA leadership, expertise and cost-effective and Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) has available for its science, Earth-orbit services in the commercial arena to in California. and interplanetary missions are United satisfy agencywide space transporta- Other launch locations are NASA’s Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V and tion requirements and maximize the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Delta II, Space X’s Falcon 1 and 9, opportunity for mission success. Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific’s Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Pegasus and facts The principal objectives of the LSP Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Taurus XL, and Lockheed Martin Space are to provide safe, reliable, cost-effec- Kodiak Island in Alaska. Systems Co.’s Athena I and II. With its tive and on schedule launch services for Since 1990, NASA has purchased unique contractual feature that allows NASA and NASA-sponsored payloads ELV launch services directly from com- new launch vehicles to be on-ramped seeking launch on ELVs. The Launch mercial providers, whenever possible, for annually, NLS II will continue to provide Services Program is responsible for its scientific and applications missions. the agency with competitive, commercial NASA oversight of the launch service ELVs can accommodate all types of orbit launch services to address customers’ including launch vehicle engineering and inclinations and altitudes and are ideal needs. FEET Launch Vehicles METERS 240 70 220 NASA 200 60 180 50 160 140 40 120 100 30 80 20 60 40 10 20 0 0 * Space Shuttle shown for size (height) comparison only EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES All expendable launch vehicles use the same whereas a large expendable vehicle, the massive spacecraft into Earth orbit and beyond. basic technology to get into space -- two or more Saturn V, was required to send a crewwed space- To date, Delta launch vehicles have car- rocket-powered stages, which fall away when craft to the moon during NASA’s Apollo Program. ried more than 200 NASA scientific, wind and their engine burns are completed. Whatever a The powerful Titan/Centaur combination carried communications payloads into orbit, or to other launch vehicle carries above the final discarded large and complex robotic scientific explorers, planets. NASA used the Athena I and II vehicles to stage is considered the payload. such as the Vikings and Voyagers, to examine launch scientific satellites from VAFB, CCAFS and A payload’s weight, orbital destination and other planets in the 1970s. Among other missions, Kodiak Island. The Pegasus is the only airborne purpose determine what size launch vehicle is the Atlas/Agena rockets sent several spacecraft launch vehicle in the ELV fleet. The Taurus XL required. A small ELV, such as Pegasus, can place to photograph and then impact the moon. The vehicle is scheduled to launch NASA’s Orbiting a low-weight spacecraft into near-Earth orbit, Atlas/Centaur helped send many of the larger Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) in 2013. U.S. EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE FLEET Atlas/Centaur Atlas/Centaurs include the Orbiting Astronomical Observatories; Applications Technology Satellites; The Atlas/Centaur vehicles first became opera- the Intelsat IV, IV-A and V series of communica- tional in 1966. Lockheed Martin used the Atlas II tions satellites; Mariner Mars orbiters; a Mariner and III rockets to launch military, commercial and spacecraft that made a flyby of Venus and three scientific payloads into space from Space Launch flybys of Mercury; Pioneers that accomplished Complex 36 at CCAFS and Space Launch flybys of Jupiter and Saturn; and Pioneers that Complex 3E at VAFB. More than 580 Atlas flights have taken place, including more than 170 flights orbited Venus and sent probes plunging through with the Centaur stage added to create the Atlas/ its atmosphere to the surface. The Atlas V system, Centaur vehicle. the newest of ULA’s fleet, first launched Aug. 21, When launched by NASA through 1989, 2002, carrying a commercial communications the Atlas/Centaur was the standard rocket for satellite. The Atlas V can carry 8,700 pounds intermediate payloads that carried about 8,200 (3,946 kilograms) to 19,100 pounds (8,663 pounds (3,700 kilograms) to geosynchronous kilograms) to GTO from Space Launch Complex transfer orbit (GTO). The Centaur was the first 41 at CCAFS. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance high-energy, liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing launch vehicle stage, and it provided the most Satellite (LRO/LCROSS) were launched on an power for its weight of any proven stage then in Atlas V rocket, June 18, 2009, from Launch use. Complex 41 at CCAFS. Most recently, NASA The Atlas/Centaur was the launch vehicle for launched the Juno spacecraft on Aug. 5, 2011, Surveyor I, the first U.S. spacecraft to soft-land aboard an Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex on the moon. Other spacecraft launched by 41 at CCAFS. Delta first and second stages, and a solid- 37, formerly a Saturn I launch pad, propellant third stage. was reconstructed by The Boeing From 1960 to 1989, NASA The Delta III launch vehicle was Company and turned over to ULA in was the responsible agency in the built as a transitional vehicle and 2006 to launch the Delta IV. A Delta launch of 170 scientific, weather launched only three times. The Delta IV rocket launched the GOES-O and communications spacecraft, IV system, the newest in Delta’s fleet, spacecraft on June 27, 2009, from along with some military satellites, launched the Geostationary Opera- Launch Complex 37 at CCAFS. aboard Delta launch vehicles from tional Environmental Satellite (GOES- NASA’s Genesis spacecraft CCAFS and VAFB. These spacecraft N, O and P) series of spacecraft for launched aboard a Delta II on Aug. 8, include NASA’s TIROS, Nimbus, ITOS, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center 2001, from Launch Complex 17-A LANDSAT and Westar series, and and NOAA as part of the delivery-on- at CCAFS. Genesis collected samples more than 30 scientific Explorers. orbit concept. The Delta IV can carry of solar wind -- invisible, charged Numerous international satellites also 9,285 pounds (4,211 kilograms) to particles that flow outward from the were launched by NASA. 28,950 pounds (13,132 kilograms) sun. The particles will be studied by The Delta family of vehicles to GTO and 17,900 pounds (8,119 scientists to search for answers to Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) launched has been upgraded several times kilograms) to 50,800 pounds fundamental questions about the on the last Delta II heavy rocket to throughout the years. The Delta II, (23,043 kilograms) into low Earth exact composition of Earth’s star and be used by the agency, on Sept. 10, most recently produced by ULA, has orbit, depending on vehicle con- the birth of our solar system. 2011, from Launch Complex 17-B solid strap-on motors, liquid-fueled figuration. Space Launch Complex NASA’s Gravity Recovery and at CCAFS. NASA’s Launch Services Program 2 NASA Facts Falcon 1 and 9 (10,450 kg) into low Earth orbit, and up to 10,009 pounds (4,540 kg) into geosynchronous orbit. Currently, the Falcon 9 is being tested for NASA’s Space X’s Falcon 1 and 9 rockets will be available Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems (COTS) for future NASA expendable launch vehicle missions program to provide cargo transportation to and from under the NLS II contract. the International Space Station, and will eventually be These rockets will be used to launch a variety of used under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) spacecraft into low Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit or contract. for interplanetary missions. A successful test flight of the rocket occurred in The Falcon 1 is designed to carry small satellites December 2010, from CCAFS’ Launch Complex-40. weighing up to 2,227 pounds (1010 kg) to low SpaceX and Orbital Sciences are two companies under Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 is designed to carry medium contract for COTS to develop the near-term capability to large satellites weighing up to 23,038 pounds to launch and return pressurized cargo from space. Pegasus XL The Pegasus XL vehicle, world. There have been success- attached beneath an Orbital Sci- ful launches from VAFB, CCAFS, ences carrier aircraft, a converted Wallops Flight Facility, the Kwajalein Lockheed L-1011, is carried to Atoll, and the Canary Islands in an altitude of 39,000 feet, and the Atlantic. Pegasus launched the then released for launch. Pegasus Aeronomy of Ice (AIM) spacecraft, has successfully placed more than April 25, 2007, and NASA’s Space 70 satellites into orbit. Its three- Technology 5 (STS), on March 22, stage solid motors can deliver up 2006, both from VAFB. Pegasus to a 970-pound (440-kilogram) also launched NASA’s Interstel- payload into low Earth orbit. Be- lar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) cause of its unique launch platform, spacecraft, from the Reagan Test this rocket can be launched Site in the Kwajalein Atoll on Oct.
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