House authorizers want the National Reconnaissance Office to use the Space Force's major launch services contracting mechanism "to the extent practicable" according to a draft of fiscal year 2020 defense policy legislation. The House Armed Services Committee's chairman's mark, which Inside Defense obtained Wednesday, directs the NRO to use the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract for missions whose requirements can be met by the program. "For missions that fall outside of the requirements of phase two of the National Security Space Launch program, the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office should continue to leverage the growing launch provider base of the United States, including those companies that provide smaller and ride-share launch capabilities to incentivize sustained investment in domestic launch capabilities," the mark states.
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