US Air Force Interested in Dedicated Smallsat Launch Services
By Kendall Russell | February 16, 2018
Virgin Orbit’s dedicated smallsat launcher, Launcher One. Photo: Virgin Orbit.
In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2019, the U.S. Air Force has introduced a new “Rocket Systems Launch Program” that will allocate funds for smallsat launch services. The budget proposal reflects the military’s intent to maintain its leadership position in the space warfighting domain, potentially ensuring a reliable customer base for newly emerging smallsat launch providers such as Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab.