LSP Launch Vehicle Fleet
Expendable launch vehicles all use the same basic technology to get off the pad and into space: two or more rocket powered stages, which fall away when their engine burns are completed. Reusable launch vehicles allow for recovery of part of the launch system for later use. Whatever the launch vehicle carries above the final discarded stage is considered the spacecraft.
LSP offers a mixed-fleet approach to support science, Earth-orbit and interplanetary missions under the contractual mechanism known as NASA Launch Services (NLS) II. This provides multiple types of vehicles, ensuring the optimal launch vehicle is chosen to support the spacecraft’s mission requirements, and to ensure competitive prices prevail among the launch vehicle providers. Generally speaking, missions with smaller satellites use smaller, less expensive vehicles, and the larger flagship missions utilize the larger, higher performance, and more reliable vehicles. This could be compared to purchasing an automobile. There are various vehicle classes ranging from a compact car to a full-sized pickup truck, all meeting diverse requirements and budgets. Pictured above is the current fleet of launch vehicles that are used to launch the spacecrafts into low-Earth orbit or deep space missions – all possessing unique capabilities. The NLS II contract offers the option to on-ramp new launch vehicles each year. LSP also offers unique “One-off” contracting approaches for customers that need additional flexibility that is not offered with NLS II.
Launch Vehicles by provider/category
Click the links below for more information about each providers launch vehicles: