National Security Space Launch

Abstract

The United States is making significant efforts to pursue a strategy that ensures continued access to space for national security missions. The current strategy is embodied in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The NSSL supersedes the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, which started in 1995 to ensure that National Security Space (NSS) launches were affordable and reliable. For the same reasons, policymakers provide oversight for the current NSSL program and encourage competition, as there was only one provider for launch services from 2006 to 2013. Moreover, Congress now requires DOD to consider both reusable and expendable launch vehicles for solicitations after March 1, 2019. To date, only expendable, or single-use, launch vehicles have been used for NSSL missions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 03, 2020
Accession Number
AD1104676

Entities

People

  • Stephen M. Mccall

Organizations

  • Congressional Research Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Agreements
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Infrastructure
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Law
  • Military Acquisition
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Reliability
  • Rocket Engines
  • Space Transportation
  • Spacecraft
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.

Technology Areas

  • Space