Extra $11 billion to fund huge leap in Space Force launches
The service now expects 170 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launches between 2025-2034, up from 60.
Vulcan grounding could impact multiple Space Force, NRO satellite launches
Among the near-term launches most likely to be delayed or shifted are those of the Space Force WGS-11 communications satellite slated to lift off by the end of March, and the Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellite
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Space Force pauses national security launches on Vulcan
"We're still in the initial phases of that investigation, so we'll continue to to work with the United Launch Alliance and their suppliers to make sure we've got the right level of insight and understand where that investigation is headed," Col. Eric Zarybnisky said.
Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit
The company's announcement did not explain how the new National Security Group would change, if at all, Blue Origin's current organization and/or practices under its national security unit headed since August by Tom Martin.
Tory Bruno resigns as head of United Launch Alliance
"My work here is now complete and I will be cheering ULA on," the longtime ULA chief said.
Space Force taps SpaceX, ULA for first set of critical launches beyond FY27
SpaceX was assigned seven NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches under a contract worth $714 million; ULA two launches worth $428 million.
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Vulcan’s first Space Force launch to carry long-delayed experimental PNT satellite
Vulcan's heaviest version, which will use six solid rocket motors, still awaits Space Force certification.
Amazon launches first 27 operational Kuiper satellites to compete with Starlink
There are a lot of hopes within DoD and the Space Force for Project Kuiper's success, with officials seeing the constellation as offering diversity beyond Starlink in the supplier base for so-called proliferated LEO services.
Space Force awards first next-gen critical launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA
While the number of launches contracted to Blue Origin is small, the award represents a vote of confidence for the company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.
ULA’s Vulcan rocket certified for national security launches
With that thumbs up from Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space program office in hand, ULA now is the second fully certified launch provider, along with SpaceX, cleared under the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
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Awaiting Space Force certification, ULA says future missions could aim to baffle Chinese watcher sats
ULA CEO Tory Bruno separately told reporters his firm identified a "manufacturing" error as the cause of an anomaly in its latest certification launch.
Space Force plans 18 NSSL launches in 2025, including on ULA’s Vulcan
Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, Space Force acquisition leader for assured access to space, said her focus going forward is "resiliency" across her portfolio, which includes launch vehicles, range infrastructure and capacity, and base security.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reaches orbit in first test flight
Service leaders see the launch vehicle as a future competitor to SpaceX's Falcon series rockets that currently have a lock on the most critical launches under the Defense Department's National Security Space Launch program.
ULA expects to be certified for national security launch ‘momentarily’
ULA CEO Tory Bruno expressed confidence that the Vulcan Centaur would be able to loft its two manifested launches scheduled for early next year for the National Security Space Launch program.