{"id":33222,"date":"2017-10-06T18:29:56","date_gmt":"2017-10-06T18:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/06\/air-force-kick-starts-next-gen-rocket-development\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:41:24","slug":"air-force-kick-starts-next-gen-rocket-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2017\/10\/06\/air-force-kick-starts-next-gen-rocket-development\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force kick-starts next-gen rocket development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Air Force on Thursday released a request for proposals for further development of a next-generation launch vehicle, which will give the service access to space through two companies with homegrown rockets and engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate aim of the program, called Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or EELV, is to work with industry to fund at least two domestically made launch systems that can propel the military\u2019s heaviest and most complex payloads into space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also provides a way for the service\u2019s most storied launch provider to transition away from using the Russian RD-180 engine, which will not be able to be used for national security launches past 2022 due to a congressional mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\t