NewSpace RFP

The opportunity

Defense RFI seeks responsive rendezvous spacecraft approaches

The Department of Defense posted a request for information for the Rendezvous, Proximity Operations (RPO) Threat Response (RTR) VICTUS Responsive Launch Space Vehicle (SV), under the office listed as FA8819 SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIR SMC SP. The notice says its purpose is to conduct market research and identify capable industry partners, innovative approaches, and potential solutions for RPO-D spacecraft designed for responsive launch. It was posted on October 1 and closes on October 19, 2026.

The company move

Rocket Lab contract story, listings and filing

A Rocket Report story dated October 2 carries the line "Rocket Lab nets big contract". On the hiring desk, Rocket Lab entered the record with 68 listings. Rocket Lab filed a 4 on October 3.

Separately, the week's stories include Omnidea Acquires Orbex Assets, Plans PrimeNEO Rocket, dated October 2. Blue Origin entered the record with 199 listings.

The money

Airframe phase one and asteroid imaging money

The totals show $33.3M committed across 16 awards that reached the federal record this week. Lockheed Martin Corporation's $20.6M, signed July 1, 2026, covers Phase 1 activities related to developing the AGM-158 XR Block 0 airframe. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $97K to Dragonfly Aerospace (Pty) Ltd., signed September 28, for a flight-qualified imaging subsystem for the TERP RAPTOR 12U CubeSat mission to asteroid Apophis.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation's award moved from $102M to $150M on October 1. Lockheed Martin's moved from $83M to $425M on September 27. Form 4 filings came from Rocket Lab, Planet Labs and Firefly Aerospace on October 3.

The launch record

Four flights, with slips for Griffin and IRNSS

The totals give four orbital launches flown this week. Starlink Group 31-1 (Starship Flight 14) was successful on September 28. Crew-13 and Transporter 18 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare) each flew successfully on October 1, and Falcon Heavy | NROL-97 was successful on October 2.

Schedule movement included Falcon Heavy | Griffin Mission One slipping 31 days on October 2, and GSLV Mk II | IRNSS-1L (NVS-03) slipping 17 days and going from TBC to TBD. Dragon CRS-2 SpX-35 moved 18 days earlier and went from TBC to Go. Four launches are scheduled in the coming week.