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Space

DoD Seeks New Authorities To Meet Growing Commercial Launch Demand At Space Ports

By Cal Biesecker

Monday, May 15th, 2023

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DoD Seeks New Authorities To Meet Growing Commercial Launch Demand At Space Ports

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a GPS III-5 satellite into orbit launches from LC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., on June 17, 2021 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

The Defense Department in April proposed new legislative authorities that would allow it to begin charging commercial launch providers additional costs for the use of its space ports to help the U.S. Space Force finance operations to keep pace with surging commercial demand for its facilities. The increasing commercial demand for the space ports at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., is putting “tremendous demand on our infrastructure” for things such as roads, power…

Congress

SASC Cites Concern With Army’s sUAS Approach, Seeks Info On Plans To Scale Fielding

Senate defense authorizers are seeking more info from the Army on its plans for scaling and deploying small drone capabilities citing concern with the service’s current “fragmented and insufficient” approach. […]

SASC Bill Would Raise Amphib Requirement To 33 Ships

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill adds new provisions that would raise the Navy and Marine Corps’ minimum requirement for amphibious warships and extend […]

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]

Senate Authorization Bill Restricts Building Navy Warships Overseas With Limited Exception For Auxiliaries

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the FY 2027 defense policy bill looks to cut the ability for the Trump administration to buy foreign-made warships, but still allow […]