United Launch Alliance wins launch of Air Force STP-3 mission
NewsJune 30, 2017
CENTENNIAL, Colo. The U. S. Air Force announced that it has awarded United Launch Alliance (ULA) the contract to launch the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission; the contract resulted from a competitive award under the Air Force?s Phase 1A procurement strategy.
The STP-3 mission-- scheduled to launch in the summer of 2019 from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas V 551 vehicle -- consists of a primary space vehicle (STPSat-6) and an integrated propulsive EELV secondary payload adapter (ESPA) holding up to six payloads. The STPSat-6 space vehicle is slated to host the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)'s Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System-3 (SABRS-3) payload and the NASA Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload. Also on the manifest will be seven science and technology payloads sponsored by the Department of Defense Space Test Program.
STP is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security, formed by the two companies in 2006.
