GAO: Weapon Systems Annual Assessment Updated Program Oversight Approach Needed – Excerpt: National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Keith’s note: The ULA Vulcan program has contracted with Blue Origin to provide its BE-4 rocket engine. This BE-4 engine is not referred to by name in this report, but it is what is referred to in this report. “A U.S. produced rocket engine under development for ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle is experiencing […]

HASC Chairman Smith Earmarks $500M Giveaway For SpaceX, Potentially Aborting Air Force Space Plans, Loren Thompson, Forbes Keith’s note: First Thompson goes on a rant against SpaceX: “Smith’s proposed language is Washington politics at its worst. According to the Air Force, if it becomes law U.S. access to critical national security orbits will be endangered, the military will need to rely longer on Russian rocket engines, and the cost of […]

Air Force awards three Launch Service Agreements, USAF “The U.S. Air Force announced today the award of three Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Launch Service Agreements to (in alphabetical order) Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and United Launch Alliance. The award to Blue Origin will be for development of the New Glenn Launch System. The award to Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems is for development of the OmegA Launch System. […]

Keith’s note: I guess ULA has adopted a humpback whale as a standard unit of measure with which to compare launch vehicles. In so doing Tory Bruno is now mocking – my mockery – of his original infographic with whales – except his original used trucks and tanks – and likely had its inspiration in part from Elon Musk’s space Tesla. This is kind of like featuring Space Shuttle Enterprise […]

Breitbart, other conservative outlets escalate anti-SpaceX campaign, Ars Technica “The central canard of these attacks is that John McCain did not, in fact, add “Section 1615″ to the Defense Authorization Act, which is now being finalized by a conference between the House and Senate. This clause does not exist at all in the Senate language. Rather, it was inserted into the House legislation by US Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican […]

For some reason, Ron Paul has taken to Fox News to skewer SpaceX, Ars Technica “Three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul has written an opinion piece for Fox News that comes out swinging against SpaceX, accusing the company of benefiting from potentially having a monopoly on national security launches. The article also attacks US Sen. John McCain as a “lead sponsor” of provisions to give SpaceX a monopoly on launch services.” […]

Air Force budget reveals how much SpaceX undercuts launch prices, Ars Technica “One person who has reviewed the Air Force budget and is sympathetic to the new space industry said the following: That is a tad more expensive than the amount ULA would ever tell taxpayers they are paying for one of its launches, and it illustrates the extent to which those taxpayers are forced to subsidize ULA in order […]

SpaceX Wins Launch of U.S. Air Force X-37B Space Plane, Reuters “Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp will fly its first mission for the U.S. Air Force in August when it launches the military’s X-37B miniature spaceplane, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said on Tuesday. Four previous X-37B missions were launched by United LaunchAlliance Atlas 5 rockets. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co . […]

Blue Origin’s new engine isn’t good enough for some congressmen, Ars Technica “At the end of February, two US representatives, Mike Rogers of Alabama and Mac Thornberry of Texas, decided to push a little harder. On February 28, they sent a letter to Lisa Disbrow, the acting secretary of the US Air Force, and James MacStravic, who is performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and […]

#TISH John Glenn blast off atop an Atlas rocket and became the 1st American in orbit. Proud to help continue his legacy. #AtlasV #Starliner pic.twitter.com/aLHyNgg6rY — ULA (@ulalaunch) February 20, 2017 Really @ulalaunch? This is like saying that these two cars are related because they have a similar shape and have 4 tires #AtlasV #Starliner pic.twitter.com/PSYOkLY9pJ — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) February 20, 2017