10 USC 2273a - Space Rapid Capabilities Office

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 11, 2026

§ 2273a.

Space Rapid Capabilities Office

(a)

In General.—

There is within the Space Force a program office known as the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (in this section referred to as the “Office”). The facilities of the Office may not be co-located with the headquarters facilities of the Space Force Space Systems Command.

(b)

Head of Office.—

The head of the Office shall be the designee of the Secretary of the Air Force. The head of the Office shall report to the Chief of Space Operations.

(c)

Mission.—

The mission of the Office shall be—

(1)

to contribute to the development of low-cost, rapid reaction payloads, busses, launch, and launch control capabilities in order to fulfill joint military operational requirements for on-demand space support and reconstitution;

(2)

to coordinate and execute space rapid capabilities efforts across the Department of Defense with respect to planning, acquisition, and operations; and

(3)

to rapidly develop and field new classified space capabilities.

(d)

Acquisition Authority.—

The acquisition activities of the Office shall be subject to the following:

(1)

The Secretary of the Air Force shall designate the acquisition executive of the Office who shall provide streamlined acquisition authorities for projects of the Office.

(2)

The Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System process shall not apply to acquisitions by the Office.

(e)

Required Program Element.—

(1)

The Secretary of the Air Force shall ensure, within budget program elements for space programs, that—

(A)

there are separate, dedicated unclassified and classified program elements for space rapid capabilities; and

(B)

the Office executes the responsibilities of the Office through such program elements.

(2)

The Office shall manage the program elements required by paragraph (1).

(f)

Board of Directors.—

The Secretary of the Air Force shall establish for the Office a Board of Directors (to be known as the “Space Rapid Capabilities Board of Directors”) to provide coordination, oversight, and approval of projects of the Office.

(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title IX, § 913(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2028; amended Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title IX, § 913(b)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2355; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title IX, § 914, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1876; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, § 1601(b)(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1720; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, § 1602, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2104; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 958(a)(2), title XVI, § 1601(b)(2), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1567, 1722; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(31), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3825; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VI, § 601(i), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 905.)

cite as: 10 USC 2273a