NSSL
Draft solicitation for national security space launch services expected in early 2023
Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy said DoD has to approve the NSSL Phase 3 strategy before a draft request for proposals can be released
Space Force considering strategy for procuring national security launch services
Space Force acquisition executive Frank Calvelli said he would be open to a different model than the current two-vendor approach for national security launch services procurement
House Armed Services chairman calls on Space Force to change how it buys launch services
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in a draft version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act pushes for changes in military launch services procurement.
Space Force sees room for more competitors in national security launch
Gen. John Raymond said the the Space Force might consider working with more than two launch companies as more players enter the industry
Space Force asks launch companies for insight on where the industry is going
The U.S. Space Force is trying to identify what launch companies might challenge SpaceX and United Launch Alliance when their current contracts are re-competed in 2024.
Federal budget stalemate having ‘ripple effects’ on national security space missions
If a CR continues, two national security space missions funded in 2022 would have to be pushed into 2023 or beyond.
ULA launches STP-3 mission with national security and NASA payloads
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket on Dec. 7 launched the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force. The rocket lifted off at 5:19 a.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Space Force awards ManTech $476 million contract for launch systems engineering services
The U.S. Space Force’s launch enterprise awarded ManTech a $476 million contract to provide systems engineering and integration services for the next 10 years.
Space Force launch director on Vulcan and BE-4: ‘We have to be very focused from here on out’
The head of the U.S. Space Force launch enterprise said it is “unfortunate” that Blue Origin is taking far longer than expected to complete the testing and production of BE-4 rocket engines for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle.
After negotiations, Space Development Agency was able to get reduced pricing for national security launch
SDA Director Derek Tournear said initially he did not want to use NSSL because it’s significantly more expensive than commercial launches but worked out an agreement with the Space Force to get the cost reduced
Northrop Grumman has not ruled out another try at national security space launch
A year after discontinuing the development of its OmegA rocket, Northrop Grumman is not completely ruling out a future attempt to get back in the national security launch market.
SpaceX or ULA to launch future Space Development Agency satellites
Launch services for Space Development Agency satellites will be procured under the National Security Space Launch program run by the U.S. Space Force.
NRO taking advantage of commercial launch options for lower-risk space missions
The National Reconnaissance Office entrusts the U.S. Space Force to launch most of its spy satellites but also use other types of commercial contracts.
