Space News Network reported on November 24 that both SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance of the United States are considered to be launch service providers related to national security, capable of launching spacecraft into specific earth orbits. The US military mostly relies on these two companies to launch satellites. However, as the military turns its attention to emerging technologies and services called "space mobility and logistics," the way the Pentagon purchases launch services may change in the future. The
Space Army has launched a launch program to study emerging space technologies and their impact on future space launch needs in order to better understand the next round of space innovation and how the military can possess these capabilities. On November 10, this plan issued a request for information to companies, asking them to submit plans for investment in supporting space maneuvers and logistics by January 15. Space tugs that can move satellites to different orbits or to different places in orbits, satellite refueling and maintenance, and space manufacturing are all related technologies. The US military currently does not have space missions in these areas, nor does it have related equipment. The information provided by the industry will help the Space Force make investment decisions related to space entry, space maneuvering and logistics. Colonel Robert Bongiovi, director of the
launch program, mentioned that the US military currently does not intend to change the structure of the national security launch program, that is, relying on two launch companies to launch military and intelligence satellites to multiple orbits. But he also mentioned that the Space Army is conducting market research to understand the launch companies' views on the next round of national security space launch competition in 2024, as well as their development direction and methods.
According to the military's vision, the future space carrier has a kind of application prospects to transport goods. The U.S. Transportation Command, which is responsible for transporting people and cargo to all parts of the world, is studying how to use space vehicles to transport supplies and personnel in emergency situations. If point-to-point transportation using suborbital space vehicles can be realized, it will open up unlimited possibilities. Z1z
Air Force Assistant Secretary for Procurement Will Roper said: “From what I know about the development of the industry, logistics is an area that is worth thinking about. If we can quickly ship materials to the other half of the earth, The special operations forces that are there so far can start operations in just a few minutes."
But Bungiovi doubted it. He mentioned that the Space Force launch program conducted research on the use of space vehicles to transport goods. As for whether it can be realized, "the companies we contacted have no way to answer this question."
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