Space industry awaits Air Force decisions on future launch services

[DocM]

Wouldn't it be something if SpaceX bid the (9 meter?) subscale BFR? 

 

We may find out next Friday at IAC2017...

 

http://spacenews.com/space-industry-awaits-air-force-decisions-on-future-launch-services/

 

Space industry awaits Air Force decisions on future launch services

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The upcoming launch services competition will feature a mix of military-focused and commercial companies. 
Challenging ULA will be Orbital ATK, which is developing a "Next Generation Launch Vehicle," and SpaceX.

Air Force space officials touted SpaceX during a panel discussion at the conference. They praised SpaceX for having disrupted the market and forcing everyone to do business differently, in a more commercial fashion.

Also adding pressure on the Air Force to move forward is the militarys increased focus on space as a future battlefront. Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, said space warriors are busier than they have been in decades. "This fiscal year we have launched 21 space missions," he said. "That is one-fourth of all space missions in the world," he noted.

"We have launched more than Russia and more than China."