USAF and NRO Express Concern for Launch Costs with Cancellation of Constellation

The Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office could face major increases in the cost of launching satellites as a result of the Obama administration’s decision to cancel NASA’s shuttle replacement program, a top Air Force official told the US Senate Armed Services Committee this week, reports The Air Force Times.

Gary E. Payton, deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for Space Programs and former STS-51C space shuttle military astronaut, told the Senate Armed Services Committee (testimony vid) that studies are now underway together with NASA and NRO to examine price questions, workforce issues and reliability concern relating to the planned Obama Administration cancellation of the NASA Constellation program.

“The decision to replace NASA’s Constellation program with a new, more technology-focused approach to space exploration, will likely reduce the customer base for solid rocket motors and potentially increase demand for liquid engines and strengthen the liquid-fuel rocket industrial base,” Payton said. “We have initiated several efforts to examine the severity of these business base issues and identify potential mitigation steps.”

Air Force. Gen. Robert C. Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, said some aspects of NASA’s plan, such as research and development on a new engine, and improvements to the “launch infrastructure” in Florida could be good for the Air Force.