Author Topic: Air Force Plans to invest in Next Generation Launch Vehicles  (Read 6974 times)

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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This is separate from the Air Force RD-180 engine replacement program, the DoD plans to invest $1.2 Billion over five years:

Quote
Using a shared-investment approach, the Defense Department “intends to pursue a strategy to competitively invest in two or more domestic launch providers’ development of new launch systems or upgrades to existing systems,” the budget request said.

http://spacenews.com/white-house-requests-1-2-billion-for-new-rocket-in-air-force-budget/

Seems like the Air Force version of CCDev for new Launch vehicle technologies.

Offline clongton

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Increasing the numbers of domestic launch providers is a good thing. The only limiting factor is the market growth. That will determine the highest number of such launch service companies because a profitable business case is mandatory for survival.
Chuck - DIRECT co-founder
I started my career on the Saturn-V F-1A engine

Offline Rocket Science

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So are we going back to the 60's with an all DoD launch system? Sounds pretty non-commercial to me...
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Star One

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Be nice if they backed some more of the less mainstream options out there. Perhaps something more will come out of the XS-1 project.

Offline HMXHMX

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Be nice if they backed some more of the less mainstream options out there. Perhaps something more will come out of the XS-1 project.

My experience is that USAF space guys hate DARPA messing about with space launch.  XS-1 is a DARPA project, so it's unlikely USAF will ever support it.

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