Maj. Gen. Robert McMurry, vice commander of the U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, predicts the U.S. military would eventually outsource certain satellite launch and space surveillance work to companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.Andy Pasztor writes McMurry told an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics-sponsored forum the Pentagon could emulate NASA’s usage of commercial technologies and services to deliver supplies or transport crews to the International Space Station.
He foresees Air Force acquiring “space lift” in the future to bring satellites into orbit, the Journal reports.
McMurry added budgetary issues have prompted SMC leaders to consider space outsourcing activity and that he believes the strategy would allow the military branch to prioritize direction and oversight of other key programs.
The newspaper reports some defense officials want to lease more satellite bandwidth from commercial providers and re-introduce competition for space launch services as part of acquisition overhaul efforts.
