US Defense selects SpaceX, Blue Origin and ULA under $5.6 billion space launch contract

The U.S. Department of Defense has contracted three space launch service providers SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch multiple space missions.

These companies are entitled to a multiple-award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum cumulative contract price of $5,600,000,000 for the National Security Space (NSS) Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 launch service procurement.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Lifting off (Source – Falcon 9)

These space missions will deliver NSS payloads to their designed orbits. However, the orbit address and mission details will be determined based on launch priorities. This contract will be served under a five-year ordering period through June 2029.

The US Defence can extend the order period for another five years. This selection is based on the capabilities and competitiveness of these companies among the seven proposals.

Other than the launch providers, US Defence also procured other contractors for research, development, and evaluation of technologies related to these missions and other projects related to military and operational utilities.

(Source)