SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin awarded $13.6 billion National Security Launch contracts

Space Systems Command has awarded three National Security Launch contracts worth $13.6 billion to SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Blue Origin to provide launch services for national space missions.

These are firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contracts with anticipated values of $5,923,580,297 for SpaceX, $5,366,439,406 for ULA, and $2,386,234,812 for Blue Origin.

These are Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts, and its acquisition strategy includes two separate contract types to provide launch support and complete national security requirements. It also focuses on robust space access for integrated space architecture at affordable prices.

“America leads the world in space launch, and through these NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts, we will ensure continued access to this vital domain,” said Major General Stephen Purdy, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force of Space Acquisition and Integration.

The Phase 3 accounts 84 overall missions, these are almost double of the phase 2. These launches will be conducted from 2025 through 2029 into commercial-like Lane 1 missions, which includes 30 missions, and the Lane 2 with 54 missions.

According to the details, SpaceX is selected as a priority requirement provider with 28 missions (around 60% of the contract). ULA comes second as requirement provider 2 with 19 missions (40%). Blue Origin is announced as requirement provider 3 with 7 launches.

The two major contract recipients will take on these missions from FY25 to FY29, and Blue Origin will start its contract in Order Year 2. SpaceX has announced that it is contract for both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket for a five-year period.

“We are very pleased to be awarded 40 percent of the Phase 3 procurement. Vulcan is the right choice for critical national security space missions and is the only rocket today designed to meet all the requirements of our nation’s space launch needs.” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO.

“This contract tasks New Glenn with missions to stressing orbits requiring higher performance launch systems and full mission assurance as a Space Systems Command (SSC)-certified launch vehicle” wrote Blue Origin.

(source)