Air Force seeking industry input on future launch architectures, capabilities

The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center recently released a far-reaching call for industry input on launch capabilities to inform future National Security Space Launch architecture requirements and deepen its understanding of future commercial and civil lift, maneuver and transport capabilities.

The request for information, issued Oct. 25, is part of a series of RFIs looking for more details on commercial launch, maneuver and transport capabilities that will help shape the Air Force's future launch requirements. The notice states that the findings will directly inform a National Security Launch Architecture study that began this month and will be incorporated in the third phase of the NSSL strategy as well as small and experimental lift programs.

Responses should consider how capabilities could be used by the Air Force in the 2025 to 2030 time frame, which could feature new proliferated low-earth orbit constellations, on-orbit servicing, advanced rideshare and hosted payload utilization. The study also asks for a more forward-looking review of future integrated payload concepts that could be needed in a multidomain space enterprise in the 2030 to 2050 time frame.

The RFI is directed not only toward launch providers, but also satellite developers and operators, asking specifically about future "architecture ambitions," perspectives on the Defense Department's current launch policies and innovative ideas for future capabilities.

The need to update the national security launch architecture is driven by a number of initiatives within the Pentagon to adapt its space posture to a changing domain. The RFI highlights some of the underlying drivers, including the 2017 National Security Strategy, which calls for more resilient space constellations; the stand-up of U.S. Space Command this spring and potential reorganization under a new Space Force; and the creation of a new Space Development Agency tasked with setting a vision for a next-generation space architecture and realigning existing programs to fit under that plan.

RFI responses, in the form of a statement of capability, are due Nov. 19, and SMC is planning an industry day in early December to discuss industry submissions.