The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is examining whether the Commercial Space Act of 1998 should be changed to allow the sale of intercontinental ballistic missiles surplus motors for use in commercial spacecraft.
The GAO conducted a study because it feels the sale of surplus motors makes the nation’s commercial space launch companies more competitive. The study was authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017.
If the motors could be sold, the government would use Department of Defense (DOD) pricing.
The GAO determined the ideal market value price using the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Handbook.
It takes three Pacemaker missile motors to launch. The DOD could sell a set of these motors and break even at $8.36 million. The break-even price for two Minutemen II motors is $3.96 million.
The benefits of selling the motors include global competitiveness and giving commercial companies more options.
Cons include increased workload for the Air Force, and negatively affecting innovation and investment.
“Uncertainties in underlying assumptions and cost estimates – such as Peacekeeper motor storage and disposal costs – could hinder effective decision-making,” the GAO report said. “Because DOD’s study is not completed, it is unclear the extent to which its study addresses such uncertainties.”