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NASA Launches Competition for Smaller, More Affordable Rockets

Monday, May 11th, 2015

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NASA Launches Competition for Smaller, More Affordable Rockets

A recent Atlas V launch for the MUOS-3 program from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Photo: ULA.

NASA has launched a competition to find a more affordable way to launch small satellites into space, freeing up funding for the science the spacecraft are designed to perform once in orbit.A draft request for proposals (RFP) was issued May 7 for what NASA calls the Venture Class Launches Services (VCLS) program, which would be the smallest class of rockets used by NASA. VCLS is envisioned as a commercial launch vehicle that can affordably launch small satellites, often called CubeSats,…

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