Blue Origin and Stoke Space Join US Space Force OSP-4 Launch Contract

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 09 July 2024 15:49

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2024

The U.S. Space Force's Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a segment of Space Systems Command's (SSC) Assured Access to Space (AATS) program, announced the addition of Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies Inc. to the Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. OSP-4, part of the Rocket Sy

Blue Origin and Stoke Space Join US Space Force OSP-4 Launch Contract
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2024

The U.S. Space Force's Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a segment of Space Systems Command's (SSC) Assured Access to Space (AATS) program, announced the addition of Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies Inc. to the Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

OSP-4, part of the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), facilitates the rapid procurement of launch services for payloads weighing 400 pounds or more, with a launch timeline of 12-24 months from task order award. The contract supports tailored task orders for Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) missions and other urgent needs.

To date, the Space Force has allocated seven missions under the OSP-4 contract, amounting to over $190 million. The contract, capped at $986 million, remains open for orders until October 2028. Future missions will be competitively awarded among the IDIQ contract holders.

The inclusion of Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies Inc. aims to bolster the small launch industry base, providing the Space Force with a wider range of vendors to meet national defense requirements.

"We are excited to add Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies Inc. as the newest providers on the OSP-4 contract," said Lt. Col. Steve Hendershot, chief of SSC's Small Launch and Targets Division.

"RSLP continues to serve as a complement to the National Security Space Launch Program, providing access to a wide range of solutions that may not be available through other programs. We're known for our proud tradition of supporting orbital and suborbital launch needs including experimental and operational missions," Hendershot explained.

"OSP-4 is available to our partners across the DoD with an emphasis on small orbital launch capabilities and launch solutions for Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission needs. Space Systems Command is focused on providing the full spectrum of space access solutions that the Space Force and the nation require."

This marks the second OSP-4 on-ramp opportunity, following the initial contract award in 2019 and the first on-ramp in 2021. The contract, while primarily focused on small launch capabilities, does not restrict the size or performance of launch systems.

Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies Inc. join the list of 10 other launch providers already part of the OSP-4 contract: ABL Space Systems, Aevum, Astra, Firefly Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), and X-Bow. The new additions enhance the competitive landscape for future USSF OSP-4 Task Order awards.

SSC, the U.S. Space Force's field command, is responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war-fighting capabilities to protect national strategic advantages in space. Managing a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget, SSC collaborates with joint forces, industry, government agencies, and academic and allied organizations to drive innovation and counter emerging threats. Their efforts are geared towards ensuring a secure space environment for future generations.