House lawmakers propose restrictions on launch service orders, recommend $150M for LSP Phase 3

By Courtney Albon / June 25, 2020 at 2:44 PM

House authorizers expressed support for the Air Force's Launch Services Procurement strategy in their mark of the fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill while proposing limits on the service's near-term buy plan and calling for additional funding for launch certification, infrastructure investments and technology development to support future competition.

The House Armed Services Committee chairman's mark, which Inside Defense obtained, includes a provision that would restrict the Air Force from ordering any Phase 2 LSP launch missions after September 2024 and would require the service to terminate existing launch services contracts with companies who aren't chosen for Phase 2 within six months of the contract award. It would also prohibit the service from delaying Phase 2 awards due to construction.

The Air Force is poised to award two LSP Phase 2 contracts this summer, which will fund a slate of National Security Space Launch missions through 2026. Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance are competing.

The bill would also require the Air Force to start investing in LSP Phase 3 efforts and recommends the service invest up to $150 million into three companies' launch certification, infrastructure development and technology maturation efforts. It also calls on the service to certify reusable launch hardware.

The House panel's language around NSSL differs slightly from the Senate Armed Services Committee's bill, which would authorize $250 million for Phase 3 launch certification and innovation efforts.

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