small launch
House Armed Services bill proposes $75 million for rapid space launch activities
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act proposes adding $75 million to the Pentagon’s budget for “tactically responsive space."
Space Force to select small rocket for ‘responsive space’ mission
The U.S. Space Force plans to select a small satellite launcher to fly a payload to low Earth orbit on short notice, a capability known as tactically responsive space.
Space Force looking at U.S. needs for ‘responsive space’
Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein: The Space Force needs to “understand where we need tactically responsive launch, but more importantly, tactically responsive space.”
Lawmakers ask House appropriators to add $50 million for DoD ‘tactically responsive launch’
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter Jan. 31 asked House defense appropriators to add $50 million to the Pentagon’s 2022 budget for tactically responsive space launch.
Launch providers argue against a “magic number” for price to orbit
Companies offering smallsat launch services argue there is no “magic” price per kilogram that allows them to unlock greater demand, with customers willing to trade off price for responsiveness or other capabilities.
HASC chairman wants updated DoD plan for ‘tactically responsive space launch’
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in his version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 directs the Defense Department to submit a plan for how it will use commercial launch vehicles for so-called tactically responsive missions.
ABL, Astra, Relativity selected to compete for U.S. Space Force responsive launch contracts
ABL Space Systems Corp, Astra Space and Relativity Space will join a pool of launch providers that are eligible to compete for missions awarded under the U.S. Space Force Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4.
Launch executives see booming demand despite gloomy forecasts
Launch executives said June 2 that demand for satellite launches likely will surge despite assertions to the contrary.
Rocket engine startup sees opportunities in crowded launch market
The small launch sector is crowded, but Will Roper believes there is still room in the market for suppliers of rocket engines that innovate fast.
ESA awards €10.45 million to two UK launch startups
The pair of contracts for Orbex and Skyrora were awarded under Boost!, an ESA program that aims to foster new commercial space transportation services.
Space Force sounding rocket launches experiment to study Earth’s ionosphere
A three-stage suborbital sounding rocket on March 3 launched an Air Force experiment from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
ULA’s Tory Bruno warns of ‘overheated’ space launch market
Tory Bruno warned there are too many venture-funded space launch companies competing for a static number of customers.
Space Force’s small launch program looks to pick up pace after a year of delays
The Space Force says it plans to evaluate as many emerging small launch providers as possible.
Aevum unveils smallsat-launching drone aircraft
Air-launch startup Aevum on Dec. 3 unveiled Ravn X, the drone aircraft that will serve as the first stage of its smallsat launch system.
Space Force foresees need for fast response launch vehicles and in-space logistics
“Space mobility and logistics” are identified in the new Space Force doctrine as core competencies of the service.
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.”
