NASA’s VADR missions (for Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) aim to meet the agency’s payload needs while also encouraging the development of new launch vehicles from both emerging and established launch providers. VADR expands access to space by significantly lowering launch costs with payloads that can accept a higher risk tolerance while requiring less NASA oversight.

“The new contracts will help us launch a Golden Age of commercial space,” says Mark Lester, Phantom Space COO and VADR Program Manager. “It’s an honour to have NASA on board—their leadership is invaluable to the space industry, and we are proud to help their programmes expand humanity’s knowledge of our planet, solar system, and beyond.”

The company intends to launch the first space flights in 2024, with NASA CubeSats among the first payloads.

Two will fly on the second Phantom flight, while the other two will fly on the fourth. NASA’s CubeSat launches will take place at Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 8.

Phantom’s two-stage Daytona rocket, which stands 18.7 metres tall (61 feet) and can transport satellites weighing up to 450 kg (990 pounds) into low-Earth orbit, will transport the CubeSats into space.

Phantom’s base in Tucson is where the Daytona is being designed, built, and tested. Ten Hadley engines supplied by Ursa Major of Colorado power it.

Phantom Space was one of a dozen companies chosen by NASA earlier this year to provide launches for VADR missions, expanding the market for science and technology payloads. Phantom’s first winning bids under the new VADR indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract are for four new streamlined CubeSat Launch Service Mission task orders.

“NASA’s launch demand will also help us grow the private demand market.” For many years, smart government funding has done this for newly emerging technology,” Lester adds.

“The more spacecraft we launch into orbit, the more we can reduce costs and expand access to space for businesses and nations that couldn’t previously afford it.” There’s a new space race underway here, and we’re excited to be a part of it.

Source: Prnewswire