Brig. Gen. D. Jason Cothern, vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), said the U.S. Space Force will continue working with launch providers after selecting two contractors for a national security mission. The Space Force previously awarded contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to utilize the former’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy vehicles.
Read More »DARPA Eyes Industry Partnerships for Rapid Launch Initiatives
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to tap the private sector after declaring no contest winners for the agency’s commercial launch competition. Astra, the sole competitor, failed to conduct the launch within the specified time period.
Read More »FAA’s Pam Underwood on Upcoming Initiatives Under New Spaceports Office
Pam Underwood, director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Spaceports, has said that her office is working with the U.S. Space Force to update management procedures for East and West-Coast ranges, SpaceNews reported Friday.
Read More »Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess: Patrick AFB Eastern Range to Ramp Up Launch Rate
Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess, director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Air Force Base, said the range is preparing to launch 40 rockets in 2020, Space News reported Wednesday.
Read More »Air Force Releasing Final Nat’l Security Space Launch RFP in April
Lt. Gen. John Thompson, the U.S. Air Force’s Space And Missile Systems Center commander, said the military branch is releasing a final launch services solicitation within the next two weeks, Space News reported Wednesday. Thompson noted in a testimony to the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces that competition for the National Security Space Launch program must push through according to schedule despite industry concerns.
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