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Air Force

Air Force Reacting Slowly On Ranges To Promise Of Reusable Rockets, Cheap Launch

Pat Host

Friday, November 4th, 2016

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Air Force Reacting Slowly On Ranges To Promise Of Reusable Rockets, Cheap Launch

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket from a recent flight and landing. Photo: Blue Origin.

Despite a vision from top Air Force officers that reusable rockets can play roles in future military missions, a conservative safety culture on launch ranges and institutional bureaucracy are slowing the service on its path to embracing the technology and, accordingly low cost launch, when it is ready in four to five years.The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a program with a goal of launching 10 times in 10 days to demonstrate aircraft-like operability, cost efficiency and…

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