The National Security Space Launch contracts open competition for the Space Force’s launch enterprise, which to date has been dominated by SpaceX and ULA.
A little-known board has been working over the last year to identify resiliency measures and ensure the systems the Space Force buys meet those standards.
The launch is a first step toward modernizing the Space Force’s more than 60-year-old weather constellation, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.
While the Space Force's acquisition executive stands by his drive for fixed-price contracts, he acknowledged some programs require a more nuanced approach.