Space Acquisitions

This Government Accountability Office (GAO) report addresses the request to (1) examine the outcomes to date of Department of Defense's (DOD) TacSat and small, low-cost launch vehicle efforts, (2) identify the challenges in pursuing these efforts, and (3) determine whether experiences with these efforts could inform DOD's major space system acquisitions. GAO recommends that DOD assign accountability for developing and implementing a departmentwide strategy for pursuing low-cost tactical capabilities---both satellite and launch vehicles---and identify corresponding funding. In commenting on the report, DOD agreed with the recommendation.