A Boeing Delta 2 rocket lifts off Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Photo: Boeing

The NASA Launch Services contracts, or NLS, has been award to Boeing's Delta rocket fleet and Lockheed Martin's Atlas family of boosters to loft planetary, Earth-observing and scientific spacecraft over the next 10 years.

NASA selected both Boeing Delta Launch Services, Inc. and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, Inc. for award of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with a minimum of one launch service to each contractor.

"Boeing Delta Launch Services, Inc. and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, Inc. were selected based on their ability to meet NASA's highly critical future mission requirements and their proven track records for providing a quality product over the years to NASA," said Scott Kerr, chairman of the NLS Source Evaluation Board. "We look forward to continuing our growing relationship with these companies and are encouraged by what they have in store for the future of expendable vehicles."

Under the agreement, the space agency can order up to 70 launches under all NLS contracts bringing the total estimated value to $5 billion.

NASA has already booked three firm launches used Boeing Delta 2 rockets under the new NLS contract with a value of more than $168 million. Five option missions were also ordered with a potential value of over $248 million.

The first launch is slated for 2002 when a Delta 2 carries the EOS CHEM spacecraft into space. Other missions will launch Deep Impact and MESSENGER in 2004.

Later Boeing launches could use either Delta 2, Delta 3 or Delta 4 rockets.

Since 1961, Delta rockets have flown 82 missions for NASA and have earned a better than 98 percent success rate.

The Atlas 3 rocket launches on its maiden flight last month. Photo: Lockheed Martin/ILS

The future Lockheed Martin launches will use Atlas 3 and Atlas 5 rockets, the first of which could come as early as 2003.

Since 1959, Atlas and Atlas/Centaur vehicles have flown 120 missions for NASA, including the majority of all U.S. interplanetary spacecraft. The current Atlas 2 family boasts a 100 percent success rate and the new Atlas 3 debuted flawlessly last month.

NLS supports the goals of NASA's Earth Science, Space Science, and Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprises with domestic launch services. The rocket's must have a minimum performance capability of delivering NASA payloads weighing 3,300 pounds or greater to a low-Earth orbit.

In addition to the awarded firm and option missions, the NLS contains an innovative "on-ramp" clause under the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract portion. The "on-ramp" creates an opportunity for emerging launch service providers and incumbents to introduce qualified launch vehicles not available at the time of the award of the initial contracts, to compete for as many as 60 additional launch service requirements planned over the life of the contract period of performance.

The principal work locations for Boeing Delta Launch Services, Inc. are Huntington Beach and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The principal work locations for the Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, Inc. are Denver, Colo., and the Cape.