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SpaceX is one of three vendors awarded U.S. Space Force NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts.
The U.S. Space Force has selected SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Blue Origin to provide launch services for its most critical national security space missions beginning in 2028.
The service awarded three National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts worth a cumulative $13.67 billion to the companies April 4.
SpaceX’s contract is worth $5.9 billion, while ULA’s is worth $5.3 billion. Both companies will receive $75.9 million in fiscal 2025 funds in the first order year, for launch service support and fleet surveillance task orders, per the contract announcement.
Blue Origin’s contract is worth nearly $2.4 billion, and the company will receive about $59.2 million of fiscal 2025 funds in the first order year.
The contracts are part of the Space Force’s new dual-lane launch procurement strategy. Phase 3 Lane 1 was established in 2024 and is meant to support new launch provider entrants, less-demanding missions and lower-priority payloads.
The Lane 2 program is a follow-on to the existing NSSL Phase 2 program and requires full vehicle certification as well as the ability to reach any orbit and fulfill mission criteria for payloads. The Space Force has earmarked 49 launches through 2033 under Lane 2. Four offers were received in response to the solicitation, according to the contract announcement.
Only providers with rockets that have completed two successful flights and are certified by the service’s Space Systems Command can provide these types of launches. SpaceX’s Falcon family and ULA’s Vulcan meet those requirements, with the latter receiving Space Force certification on March 26. Both companies are currently servicing the Space Force’s NSSL Phase 2 contract, which includes missions scheduled for launch in fiscal 2022-27.
Blue Origin completed its first flight of its New Glenn heavy-lift vehicle Jan. 16 and must achieve a second successful flight for NSSL certification before it can fly Lane 2 missions. New Glenn Flight 2 is expected this spring.
All three vendors are also participating in Phase 3 Lane 1, alongside Rocket Lab and Stoke Space.
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