Trident D-5 SLBM Maintenance: Rocket Motors, Guidance

Trident II D-5

Carried on SSBN-726 Ohio Class submarines, The Trident II D-5 is the US Navy's submarine launched nuclear missile, with exceptional range for a sea-launched weapon and accuracy figures that rival or even exceed land-based ICBMs. These missiles are arguably the most important and effective component of the US nuclear deterrent, and they constitute Britain's entire nuclear deterrent as well. They were first deployed in 1990, and are planned for continuous deployment to 2042.

The US Navy's Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, DC and Lockheed Martin recently issued over $100 million in contracts related to the Trident II D-5 SLBMs, in order to maintain their propulsion and guidance systems.

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Falcon-1 Launch Failure: SpaceX's Preliminary Analysis

Falcon-1: first launch
(click to see problem)

DID covered the SpaceX's Falcon-1 and its inaugural launch failure this Monday, as well as the programs impacted by its failure. Now SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has stepped up with a preliminary analysis of what happened:

"The good news is that all vehicle systems, including the main engine, thrust vector control, structures, avionics, software, guidance algorithm, etc. were picture perfect. However, at T+25s, a fuel leak of currently unknown origin caused a fire around the top of the main engine that cut into the first stage helium pneumatic system. On high resolution imagery, the fire is clearly visible within seconds after liftoff. Once the pneumatic pressure decayed below a critical value, the spring return safety function of the pre-valves forced them closed, shutting down the main engine at T+29s. It does not appear as though the first stage insulation played a negative role, nor are any other vehicle anomalies apparent from either the telemetry or imaging."

Note that a formal, comprehensive investigation by SpaceX and the U.S. government will follow. Musk adds:

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$11.4M to Aerojet for "Innovative Post-Boost Propulsion Concepts"

Aerojet-General Corp. in Sacramento, CA received an $11.4 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification to evaluate, develop, and demonstrate "innovative post boost propulsion concepts." It exercises option 1 of the Phase II baseline program for research and development to and component technologies to support the Minuteman III nuclear missiles. The scheduled completion date is June 2008. The Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the cotract (FA8402-05-C-0036-P00002).

Falcon-1 Rocket Fails After Launch

Falcon-1 rocket
(click to view full)

The inaugural flight of SpaceX's two-stage Falcon-1 rocket ended in failure on Friday, as the rocket and its satellite payload was lost just after liftoff. SpaceX had launched the two-stage Falcon 1 rocket at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) from the U.S. military's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site, located on Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific's Marshall Islands. Webcast video from the rocket appeared to show a rolling motion before the feed was lost, but a precise analysis of the problem is not yet available. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk promised that "more information will be posted once we have had time to analyze the problem."

The rocket was expected to deploy the small, $800,000 FalconSat-2 micro-satellite built by U.S. Air Force Academy. The little satellite cube was sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and was designed to measure the effects of space plasma on communication and global positioning satellites.

The mission as a whole carried a $6.7 million price tag. It also had larger significance to the Pentagon's Office of Force Transformation as part of their "Operationally Responsive Space" plans, and for DARPA's larger F.A.L.C.O.N. program. Low-cost launch success by SpaceX could even have implications for the larger rocket launch market. The goal remains within reach, but the failure of the inaugural launch is definitely a setback for all concerned.

Falcon-1 Launch Today, as US Moves Toward "Operationally Responsive Space"

Article pulled, pending revision.

Lockheed Receives $57M for EELV Rocket Work

Atlas rocket family
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The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA has issued a pair of contracts to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Littleton, CO, related to the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The EELV program was designed to reduce the cost of government space launches through greater vehicle modularity, component standardization, and contractor competition, with system requirements that emphasized simplicity, commonality, standardization, new applications of existing technology, streamlined manufacturing capabilities, and more efficient launch-site processing.

Crosslink Magazine's Winter 2004 article "EELV: The Next Stage of Space Launch" offers an excellent briefing that covers EELV's program innovations and results, while a detailed National Taxpayer's Union letter to Congress takes a much less positive view. The two contracts include:

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$9.9M to Complete Heat Protection Research for Hypersonic Vehicles

Falcon HTV Concept
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University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, OH received a $9.9 million cost plus fixed fee contract. Solicitations began in December 2005, and negotiations were complete in February 2006. The Headquarters Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, issued the contract (FA8650-06-C-7615). As the DefenseLINK release notes:

"The Air Vehicles directorate has for several years conducted focused research on high temperature thermal protection systems that support high-speed air vehicles. The primary application of this technology is to un-powered hypersonic technology vehicles such as those being developed in the DARPA/AFSPC Falcon Program. However, this technology has many other applications to high-speed air, re-entry and space access vehicles. Ongoing research into these thermal protection systems is approximately half complete; this effort will carry the research through to completion over the next five years."

ATK Wins $541 Mn to Refuel Minuteman III ICBMs

Good as new.

Alliant Techsystems subsidiary ATK Thiokol has received contract options worth $541 million from Northrop Grumman Corporation to refurbish components and replace propellant on Minuteman III nuclear ICBM Stage 1, 2 and 3 rocket motors. This award is the fifth of seven full-rate production options under the ICBM Propulsion Replacement Program. The fifth option is worth $194 million, covers 78 booster sets, and will extend the program through March 2008. Options 6 and 7 are for 84 and 50 booster sets respectively, and would extend the program through August 2009.

The Minuteman III Propulsion Replacement Program (PRP) began in 1998 as a Joint Venture between ATK and Pratt & Whitney. All work content was transitioned to ATK in the 2003-2004 timeframe following a contract restructure. Most of the work on the contract will be performed at the company's facilities in Utah. See corporate release.

With the retirement of the more modern MX "Peacekeeper" missile, the Minuteman III is the sole nuclear missile remaining in the land component of America's nuclear triad. These missiles have undergone a number of upgrades over the past few years - not to mention EPA certification; see all DID coverage of the Minuteman III for more.

Dutch Space BV Joins EADS Space - Just in Time for Job Cuts

Ariane 5 Launch
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Dutch Space BV, the largest space company in the Netherlands, has been acquired by EADS SPACE and will become part of EADS SPACE Transportation once the acquisition is complete. The firm was once part of the Fokker group, and has since become an important EADS SPACE Transportation supplier by contributing key components to the Airane 5 launcher, VEGA small European launcher, and the International Space Station's ERA robotic arm.

The firm has nearly 300 employees working in the areas of robotics, space instruments, launchers and solar arrays, with unique expertise in lightweight, rigid and strong structural components. The very next day after the acquisition was announced, however, EADS Space CEO Francois Auque told French daily Les Echos that "Whatever happens, we already know that 700 job cuts will be necessary in the coming three years; 500 engineering assistants for our subcontractors, and 200 at EADS Space Transportation", the rocket launching unit of EADS Space.

$5.5M to Booz to Support US Strategic Forces Programs

Falcon HTV concept

Booz-Allen and Hamilton in McLean, VA received a $5.5 million contract modification for advisory and assistance services that focus on acquisition program management and systems engineering/ analysis capability. This will support future system programs that include, but are not limited to: land based strategic defense, common air vehicle (the hypersonic spaceplane portion of the FALCON program), intercontinental ballistic missile demonstration/ validation, integrated applications programs, and ICBM long-range requirements planning studies.

This action exercises option one of the contract, and implements a period of performance from December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. The location of performance is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the contract (FA8204-05-C-0022/P00002).