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| 2020-06-11 | |
| [SN] A May 29 letter signed by 28 lawmakers asks the Air Force to not cave to pressure to add a third provider in the Phase 2 launch services procurement. Lawmakers and lobbyists are making a last-ditch effort to influence the Air Force’s game plan to procure space launch services. The Department of the Air Force on behalf of the U.S. Space Force plans to soon announce the two winners of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch services procurement. Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX are competing for two contracts to fly approximately 34 missions from 2022 to 2027. “We are proceeding on schedule for an award in summer 2020. There are no significant issues affecting schedule,” the director of the Space Force Launch Enterprise Col. Rob Bongiovi said in a statement to SpaceNews. The strategy to select two winners from a field of four competitors from the outset was criticized by launch provider Blue Origin. The company argued that the Air Force should select a third provider to widen the competitive playing field and create more business opportunities for the launch industry. That argument drew support from the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Adam Smith who represents Blue Origin’s home state of Washington.
The push to add a third provider pitched Blue Origin against ULA, which has fought to prevent any change to the Phase 2 plan. Related: Blue Origin: 2020-02-26 In first public results, Branson's Virgin Galactic posts $73 million quarterly loss Blue Origin: 2019-12-09 Christmas gifts delivered to the ISS Blue Origin: 2019-11-23 The Air Force Tried to Operate Efficiently ‐ But Apparently That's Not Allowed Related: United Launch Alliance: 2019-12-21 WTF is wrong with NASA? United Launch Alliance: 2019-08-21 Plans detailed for first US mission to land on moon since Apollo United Launch Alliance: 2019-07-04 SpaceX to Exit Vandenberg? Related: Northrop Grumman: 2020-03-08 SpaceX launches station supplies, nails 50th rocket landing Northrop Grumman: 2020-02-04 US Air Force's secretive $600 million B-21 Raider stealth bomber with blade-like wings designed for carrying out precise H-bomb strikes is revealed in new artist renderings Northrop Grumman: 2020-01-27 USAF E-11A down in Taliban area. | |
| Posted by:3dc |