Air Force Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of the Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, second from left, speaks with reporters April 11, 2019, at the 35th Space Symposium. Credit: Keith Johnson

Air Force insists launch competition must stay on schedule

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The upcoming release of the Air Force RPF for launch services was a hot topic last week at the 35th Space Symposium

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Blue Origin’s reusable New Glenn rocket is slated to make its debut in 2021. Launch customers signed to date include Eutelsat, Telesat, Sky Perfect JSAT, OneWeb and Mu Space. Credit: Blue Origin

Blue Origin urging Air Force to postpone launch competition

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Blue Origin wants the U.S. Air Force to wait until 2021 before picking the two companies it intends use for launching critical military satellites in the decade ahead.

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Political fight intensifies as Air Force prepares to kick off launch competition

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The fact that we are hearing conflicting stories coming from the Pentagon and from SMC speaks to the political scrutiny surrounding the National Security Space Launch program.

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Clockwise from left: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, ULA's Vulcan Centaur, Northrop Grumman's OmegA and Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets are all in the running to compete for a block of launch contracts the U.S. Air Force intends to divide between two providers during phase 2 of the Launch Service Agreements (LSA) program. Credit: SpaceX / ULA / Northrop Grumman / Blue Origin

Air Force space launch competition caught in political crossfire

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While Blue Origin is asking for a delay in the LSP decision, ULA is said to be fiercely opposed.

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Thompson

Air Force firmly opposed to delaying National Security Space Launch competition

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An award is anticipated in spring 2020. The Air Force will procure launch services from fiscal year 2020 through 2024 for launches starting in 2022.

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