RRL

I’m actually looking forward to the Rocket Racing League getting under way. It looks like it will be an exciting and new way to get the public interest in space again, assuming it can bring in the crowds, as well as highlight the capabilities of private organizations to safely operate rocketry driven craft. I would like to see the exhibition race at this summer’s Oshkosh AirVenture though I might be able to pull off seeing either race in Reno or Las Vegas.

KC-X Contract Battle

Boeing, Northrop Spar Over Tanker (defense-aerospace.com) An interesting look at how the two competitors are arguing over the KC-X Tanker contract. I don’t really agree with Boeing’s approach of using advertisements in an attempt to wrestle the contract away from Northrop but both sides have resorted to similar tactics. It seems a little unethical to try and use public opinion in what was a military procurement matter and is now a matter for the GAO to review to address Boeing’s concerns over the process. Apparently even the USAF is getting concerned about the war of words and it’s possible effect on Boeing-Airforce relations.

I know the aerospace industry is highly competitive, especially for military and government contracts, but this seems unusually so this time around, perhaps due to global political and market concerns. That and Boeing also recently lost another contract to Northrop for the Navy. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps Boeing became approached the procurement process with a sense of entitlement. Regardless of Boeing’s approach that does not eliminate the need to ensure that the process  was done above board.