Space Force awards first next-gen critical launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA

New Glenn at liftoff during the NG-1 mission, Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo: Blue Origin)

SPACE SYMPOSIUM 2025 — The Space Force has awarded the first contracts under the National Security Space Launch Program (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2, with awards going to United Launch Alliance (ULA), SpaceX and newcomer Blue Origin — the first big-ticket national security launch contract for the Jeff Bezos-backed firm.

“The overall NSSL Phase 3 Mission Manifest has almost doubled compared to Phase 2, with an anticipated 84 missions being awarded” from fiscal year 2025 through 2029, Space Systems Command announced April 4. This will include approximately 30 “commercial-like” Lane 1 missions and approximately 54 Lane 2 missions.

NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches carry high-value, must-go payloads and/or those headed to orbits that are more difficult to achieve. Space Force is using firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery contracts for these types of launches.

Lane 2 differs from Lane 1, which are more risk-tolerant payloads, going to easier to reach orbits. These launches are being contracted via a vendor pool created by a set of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts, under which the Space Force uses a specific task order to one company for each launch.

Under the new awards, SpaceX is “anticipated” to undertake 28 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions, about 60 percent of the launches contracted from FY25-FY29, for a sum of around $5.9 billion, and ULA 19 missions, about 40 percent, Space Systems Command (SSC) announced April 4.

Blue Origin, “is projected to be awarded seven Phase 3 Lane 2 missions starting in Order Year 2,” of FY26, SSC added.

SSC usually contracts for NSSL launches two years in advance, so the contract awards would cover  missions actually lofted between FY27 and FY32.

While the number of contracted to Blue Origin is small, the award represents a vote of confidence for the company given that its New Glenn heavy lifter has yet to be fully certified by the service to carry NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions. New Glenn made its first successful certification flight Jan. 16,  and according to an April 4 press release the company expects the required second certification flight to go up in “late spring.”

New Glenn last June was okayed by the Space Force to carry NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 missions carrying lighter payloads going to lower, less stressing orbits, along with ULA and SpaceX. SSC on March 28 announced it had added Rocket Lab USA and Stoke Space to the Lane 1 pool.