small launch
Small launch startup ABL secures over $90 million in new funding and Air Force contracts
ABL says the funding will accelerate the development of its two-stage launch vehicle and mobile infrastructure.
VOX Space president questions DoD’s handling of stimulus funding for small launch industry
Mandy Vaughn said notifying companies of contract awards and immediately rescinding them shows “a little bit of discombobulation."
Industry executive: Defense Production Act small launch contracts should have been competed
SmallSat Alliance Chairman Chuck Beames: 'I think they messed up.'
Funds no longer available for Defense Production Act small launch contracts
Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper said funds that had been allocated for small launch contracts were redirected to small business loans.
DoD withdraws Defense Production Act small launch contract awards
The U.S. government “will not award the identified contracts at this time.”
DoD official: Many factors considered in Defense Production Act contracts
Companies are selected based on data provided to DoD leaders by the Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Six small launch companies to receive DoD contracts under Defense Production Act
Aevum, Astra, X-Bow, Rocket Lab, Space Vector and VOX Space each will receive contracts to launch two rideshare missions.
With regulatory legwork complete, Swarm shifts focus to tackling launch delays
In an interview, Swarm chief executive Sara Spangelo said a trifecta of setbacks prevented the company from getting its constellation in orbit in the timeframe envisioned.
Shakeout in small launch industry is coming but nobody can predict when
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck: "The market needs to grow a lot to sustain more than two companies."
Pentagon identifies small launch industry as one of the most impacted by pandemic
Ellen Lord: “We're looking where the greatest pain points are, and again, it's really aviation, shipbuilding and small space launch.”
Small launch startup ABL Space Systems to test rocket hardware at Edwards Air Force Base
A key capability that AFRL wants to demonstrate with ABL Space Systems is remote launch.
Air Force to schedule nine small launch missions in 2020
Small launch missions planned for 2020 include experimental satellites, a prototype rideshare and missile defense tests.
DARPA scoping the market for small satellite launchers
As it plans future experiments DARPA wants to take advantage of the growing availability of launch options.
Senate appropriators add $22M for small launch, approve Space Force and Space Development Agency requests
The $22 million for Tactically Responsive Space Launch was added to the Air Force’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation account.
Vector relinquishes Air Force launch contract, mission re-awarded to Aevum
Vector on Aug. 26 withdrew as the contractor for the Air Force Agile Small Launch Operational Normalizer (ASLON)-45 space lift mission.
Foust Forward | Worldwide, there are 131 small launch vehicles in the works. Most of these will fizzle out.
There’s almost universal agreement in the industry that there are far many more small launchers under development than can be supported by even the most optimistic forecasts of smallsat development.
