[Satellite Today – 3-11-08] Space Explorations Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office to carry its Jumpstart mission payload on the Falcon 1, SpaceX announced March 10.
    The Jumpstart mission aims to establish a preliminary framework for responsive contracting, and to demonstrate the ability to rapidly integrate and execute a mission, from initial call-up to launch.
SpaceX aims to demonstrate its ability to perform responsive mission integration for three separate candidate ORS payloads. The actual flight payload will be determined by the ORS Office at or before the SpaceX Flight Readiness Review for the Falcon 1 Flight 003 (F1-003) vehicle, which typically occurs two weeks before launch. Falcon 1 is scheduled for launch in June 2008.   
    "The Jumpstart mission is an important milestone for Operationally Responsive Space,” Colonel Kevin McLaughlin, head of ORS and commander of Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Development and Test Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico said in a statement. “It demonstrates many of the ORS enablers needed to achieve the responsiveness timelines demanded by our deployed forces. The SpaceX Falcon launch capability is expected to be a key contributor in the responsive launch arena and we are pleased to be their teammate on this important mission."