The Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center released a final request for proposal Monday for the development of rideshare payload adapters to be used with its Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. The Long Duration Propulsive EELV Secondary Payload Adapters, or LDPE, will build on secondary payload adapter technology already developed by the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory and will enable Air Force space vehicles to host additional payloads on launch missions, as required by Air Force Space Command policy. The LDPE program will be “a competitively bid acquisition for an EELV-compatible payload adapter with power, attitude control, and propulsive capabilities,” according to an SMC press release.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.