The failed launch this June of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket (Defense Daily, June 29) was likely caused by a strut in the second stage liquid oxygen tank, which broke free during flight, said the company’s CEO and chief rocket designer Elon Musk. After the strut failed, the highly-pressurized helium bottle it was securing shot to the top of the tank at high speed, leading to the rocket explosion just two minutes after launch.The stainless steel strut was designed to handle…
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Coleman Aerospace Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Orlando, Florida, is being awarded a $10,333,902 modification (P00258) to exercise an option to a previously awarded contract (HQ1047-14-C-0001) to increase calendar year 2026 program management office…
The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $262,069,451 fixed-price-incentive, performance-based contract for V-22 Phase II consumable market basket items. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in…
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded an estimated $264,867,008 modification to award a hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (SPRTA1-26-F-0020) against a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (SPRTA1-19-D-0001) for B-2 rudders. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification…
General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded an $11,146,013 modification (P00122) to contract W56HZV-22-C-0012 to exercise option hours for Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of…
