NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Pandora Mission
Summary:
NASA has awarded a task order to United Launch Alliance (ULA) for the launch service of its Pandora mission, scheduled for launch in 2025. The mission will study the formation and evolution of the solar system’s planets, moons, and asteroids.
Mission Overview:
Pandora is a Discovery-class mission that will orbit the asteroid Psyche, a 226-kilometer (140-mile) wide body of metal located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet, a building block of planets, that never fully formed.
By studying Psyche’s composition, structure, and magnetic field, the mission aims to provide insights into the early stages of planet formation, including the processes that led to the formation of Earth and other planets in our solar system.
Launch Vehicle and Launch Date:
Pandora will be launched aboard a ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket, a new launch vehicle that is under development. The launch is planned for August 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to provide up to 61 metric tons of lift capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO). It is powered by two BE-4 engines on the first stage and a single Centaur upper stage using RL10C engines.
Task Order Details:
The task order awarded to ULA has a potential value of up to $28.7 million. It covers the launch services, including the launch vehicle, launch site operations, mission integration, and other associated services.
ULA will be responsible for providing the Vulcan Centaur rocket, preparing the spacecraft for launch, and conducting the launch operations. The company has a proven track record of successful launch missions, having launched dozens of satellites and spacecraft for NASA and other customers.
Significance:
The Pandora mission is an important part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to explore the solar system and understand its origins. By studying Psyche, scientists hope to gain valuable insights into the processes that shaped our planet and the universe we live in.
The launch of the mission in 2025 will mark a significant milestone in NASA’s Discovery program, which supports investigations that address fundamental questions about our planet, the solar system, and the universe.
NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Pandora Mission
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