NASA Adds SpaceX's Starship To Launch Services Program Fleet (yahoo.com)
(Saturday March 29, 2025 @06:00AM (BeauHD)
from the onboarding-process dept.)
- Reference: 0176855323
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/03/29/0950235/nasa-adds-spacexs-starship-to-launch-services-program-fleet
- Source link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/know-nasa-adds-spacexs-starship-005003287.html
Despite recent test failures, NASA has [1]added SpaceX's Starship to its Launch Services Program contract , allowing it to compete for future science missions once it achieves a successful orbital flight. Florida Today reports:
> NASA [2]announced the addition Friday to its current launch provider contract with SpaceX, which covers the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. This opens the possibility of Starship flying future NASA science missions -- that is once Starship reaches a successful orbital flight.
>
> "NASA has awarded SpaceX of Starbase, Texas, a modification under the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to add Starship to their existing Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch service offerings," NASA's statement reads. Th announcement is simply an onboarding of Starship as an option, as the contract runs through 2032. However, SpaceX is under pressure to get Starship operational by next year as the company plans not only to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars by late 2026, but the NASA Artemis III moon landing is fast approaching. Should it remain the plan with the current administration, Starship will act as a human lander for NASA's Artemis III crew.
>
> "The NLS II contracts are multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, with an ordering period through June 2030 and an overall period of performance through December 2032. The contracts include an on-ramp provision that provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to add their launch service on an NLS II contract and compete for future missions and allows existing contractors to introduce launch services not currently on their NLS II contracts," NASA's statement reads.
[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/know-nasa-adds-spacexs-starship-005003287.html
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-spacex-starship/
> NASA [2]announced the addition Friday to its current launch provider contract with SpaceX, which covers the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. This opens the possibility of Starship flying future NASA science missions -- that is once Starship reaches a successful orbital flight.
>
> "NASA has awarded SpaceX of Starbase, Texas, a modification under the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to add Starship to their existing Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch service offerings," NASA's statement reads. Th announcement is simply an onboarding of Starship as an option, as the contract runs through 2032. However, SpaceX is under pressure to get Starship operational by next year as the company plans not only to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars by late 2026, but the NASA Artemis III moon landing is fast approaching. Should it remain the plan with the current administration, Starship will act as a human lander for NASA's Artemis III crew.
>
> "The NLS II contracts are multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, with an ordering period through June 2030 and an overall period of performance through December 2032. The contracts include an on-ramp provision that provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to add their launch service on an NLS II contract and compete for future missions and allows existing contractors to introduce launch services not currently on their NLS II contracts," NASA's statement reads.
[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/know-nasa-adds-spacexs-starship-005003287.html
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-spacex-starship/
Yes, this will save NASA money (Score:2)
by greytree ( 7124971 )
Starship will save money for NASA due to greatly-reduced launch costs and give them capabilities no other launcher can provide.
A Starship launch will cost about two orders of magnitude less than one on NASA's SLS launcher.
This has nothing to do with (very real) Trump corruption, a Biden-run NASA would have done the same.
( And, yes, Musk has gone mad. )
Re: (Score:2)
Come on, don't be so negative.
By quickly killing social security and government medical insurance, the DGE will save much more than the 40+ billion in subsidies, which the gubbermint has put in those deep, boot-strapped pockets so far.