The head of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) expects contract awards for the service’s new rocket propulsion system in the next two months and “possibly sooner.”
Air Force Gen. John Hyten told reporters Tuesday the service is in source selection for its indigenous propulsion system, an effort to get off the Russian-developed RD-180 that currently powers a majority of the Air Force’s launches. The fiscal year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bans use of the engine beyond 2019.
Hyten also warned that a new propulsion system is not a rocket, and that he didn’t think the service would have a replacement rocket by 2019. He said there is a period between 2019 and 2021 where the Air Force will have to figure out how to continue to maintain assured access to space, or two rockets, while those new engines are being tested. New engines, Hyten said, need to be integrated, flown and tested on rockets to ensure they work properly.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) spokesman John Taylor on Thursday declined to say if the company responded to the new engine request for proposals (RFP), citing company policy on not commenting prior to contract award. Aerojet Rocketdyne [AJRD] spokesman Glenn Mahone said Thursday the company responded, offering its AR-1 replacement for the RD-180 replacement. Expected bidder United Launch Alliance (ULA) did not return a request for comment by press time.
The Air Force could award as many as four contracts totaling $160 million as part of its new rocket propulsion system. The contracts are expected to cover 12 to 18 months’ worth of effort. The service said in June that that non-governmental investment must cover at least one-third of costs.
The Air Force was unable to respond to a request for comment by press time.