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3w ago

Pentagon Awards $13.7 Billion in Military Launch Contracts to SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin

The contracts, part of the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 program, assign 54 high-assurance missions to three U.S. launch providers through 2029.

ULA's Vulcan, Blue Origin's New Glenn, and SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. Credit: ULA, Blue Origin, SpaceX
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket lifts off from its Florida launch pad. (Blue Origin via YouTube)
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink 13-1 mission launches from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Jan. 21, 2025 . This mission carried 21 satellites to low Earth orbit to expand global internet capabilities. (U.S. Space Force photo by Robert Mason)
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Overview

  • The U.S. Department of Defense has finalized $13.7 billion in contracts under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 program, announced on April 4, 2025.
  • SpaceX leads with $5.9 billion in awards for 28 missions, followed by ULA with $5.4 billion for 19 missions, and Blue Origin with $2.4 billion for 7 missions.
  • Blue Origin enters the national security launch market for the first time, with its assignments contingent on the certification of its New Glenn rocket.
  • The contracts cover launches scheduled between fiscal years 2025 and 2029, with liftoffs expected from 2027 through 2032 due to mission integration timelines.
  • The dual-lane strategy of NSSL Phase 3 emphasizes high-assurance launches, reducing reliance on Russian-made engines and strengthening U.S. space launch capabilities.