Outer space

Air Force issues call for next-gen, U.S.-made space launch systems

The Air Force announced two steps Tuesday to move beyond its reliance on a Russian-made rocket engine for national security space launches, and to move toward a more competitive, next-generation launch system.
The service released a request for proposal for the development of a domestically produced propulsion system as part of the congressionally required move away from the sole use of the Russian RD-180 engine on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The goal is to award a total of $160 million to four companies to develop prototypes of new systems.