Expendable launch system program of the United States Space Force
Delta IV Heavy liftoff from SLC-6
National Security Space Launch (NSSL) is a program of the United States Space Force (USSF) intended to assure access to space for United States Department of Defense and other United States government payloads. The program is managed by the Assured Access to Space Directorate (SSC/AA) of the Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC),[1] in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office.[2]
Started in 1994 as the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle launch system program, the initial program goal was to make government space launches more affordable and reliable, leading to the development of the Boeing Delta IV and Lockheed Martin Atlas V EELV families. These remained the primary launch vehicles for U.S. military satellites, and were later joined by the Falcon 9 developed by SpaceX.[3][4]
On 1 March 2019, the program name was changed from EELV to National Security Space Launch (NSSL) to better reflect the growing commercial launch market and the changing nature of launch contracts, including the potential for reusable launch vehicles.[5][6]
The NSSL program launches the nation's most valuable military satellites; contracts to launch lower value payloads, such as those of the Space Test Program, are awarded using different methodologies.[7]
^Sodders, Lisa (August 12, 2022). "Space Systems Command Celebrates First Anniversary as USSF Field Command". Space Systems Command. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
^Tadjdeh, Yasmin (July 20, 2021). "JUST IN: National Reconnaissance Office Embracing Commercial Tech". National Defense Magazine. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
^"SpaceX's Falcon 9 Breaks EELV Monopoly". Spaceflight Insider. May 27, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
^McCall, Stephen (December 30, 2020). "Defense Primer: National Security Space Launch" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference McCall-2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Berger, Eric (March 4, 2019). "EELV isn't what it used to be: Air Force changes launch program name". Ars Technica. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^"Air Force establishes National Security Space Launch program" (Press release). U.S. Air Force. March 1, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
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