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U.S. Space Force awards $13.7 billion in new national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA
- The U.S. Space Force awarded nearly $14 billion worth of national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance.
- The contract, known as Lane 2 of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3, will spread missions over a five-year period starting in FY25.
- SpaceX is set to receive about 60% of the missions, ULA will get 40%, and Blue Origin will receive seven missions.
- The missions, to be launched from FY27-FY32, are aimed at enhancing launch resiliency and capacity for national security missions.
- The Space Force split NSSL Phase 3 into two lanes to expand launch provider availability, with Lane 1 for less critical missions and Lane 2 for critical payloads.
- SpaceX has received a NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 task order valued at about $734 million for seven Falcon 9 launches.
- Lane 2 requires capability to launch rockets from both Western and Eastern Ranges and support vertical integration.
- ULA's Vulcan rocket and SpaceX's Falcon 9 are gearing up for upcoming launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base and other locations.
- Blue Origin, as a new player in national security missions, aims to contribute with its New Glenn rocket and plans for a launch complex at SLC-9.
- Elon Musk of SpaceX highlighted SpaceX's capabilities, emphasizing their dominance in national security mission capability.
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