DARPA Trying to Act Without Oversight, Orbital ATK Says

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency never disputes that its contract with Space Systems Loral (SSL) violates the national space policy (NSP), and instead is effectively taking the position it can act without oversight, Orbital ATK said in an opposition (in Pacer) filed Monday. It responded to a DARPA motion to dismiss (see 1704120014) Orbital ATK's lawsuit claiming the SSL contract for development of technology for servicing in-orbit geosynchronous satellites unfairly competes with commercial space activity. The NSP, as an executive order, "has the force of law" and gives the court a standard to apply to DARPA's conduct, Orbital ATK said. DARPA counsel didn't comment Tuesday.