Outer space

Three companies selected for DARPA Launch Challenge

Three launch vehicle developers, one of which is still in stealth mode, have qualified to compete in a DARPA competition in early 2020 to demonstrate responsive launch capabilities.

In a briefing at the 35th Space Symposium here April 10, DARPA announced that Vector, Vox Space and a stealth-mode company have qualified to participate in the DARPA Launch Challenge. Vox Space is the U.S.-incorporated subsidiary of Virgin Orbit, which is developing the LauncherOne air-launch system.

Todd Master, the manager of the competition at DARPA, said the unnamed company will identify itself closer to the dates of the competition. “At this time they’re not ready to do that,” he said.

Industry sources believe that the stealth company is most likely Astra Space, a company developing a small launch vehicle that suffered two failed test launches last year from Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska. Master said that two companies are using ground launch systems and that none of the companies have yet to put payloads into orbit, characteristics consistent with Astra Space.

As part of the competition, the three companies will first attempt to launch payloads into orbit in January or February of 2020. The exact launch window and location, which will be selected from a set of spaceports announced last November, will be revealed to the companies about 30 days in advance.

Each company that is able to place a payload into orbit will receive $2 million and then perform a second launch from a second site, also on short notice. The companies will that perform the second launch will be eligible for a $10 million first prize, $9 million second prize and $8 million third prize.