The Air Force is pushing back the release of the final Request for Proposals (RFP) for its Orbital/Suborbital small and medium lift program (OPS-3) to mid-May, according to an Air Force Space Command spokesman.
The service originally expected to release the final RFP by the end of April (Defense Daily, April 25).
The goal of OSP-3 is two-fold: lifting satellites weighing 400 lbm (pound mass) to 4,000 lbm and 4,000 lbm to 20,000+ lbm into Low Earth Orbit (or equivalent), including suborbital capabilities, according to a notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities.
The primary objective of OSP-3 is to provide an enhanced capability and flexibility in the development of small and medium launch vehicles and services while providing an on-ramp for emerging capability, according to the notice.
The entire OSP-3 FBO notice can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/Id1eRJ