Three companies have won more than $13 billion in contracts to launch national security satellites into space in the coming years, according to the long-awaited announcement military officials made last week.
SpaceX and its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets captured the bulk of the missions with $5.9 billion of business under the latest phase for the military’s firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery award.
While Falcon 9 rockets deliver a number of private satellites, such as the 27 Starlink craft that traveled to space Monday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the firm also continues to be one of the key providers in getting U.S. military payloads into orbit.
The new contract also awards United Launch Alliance $5.4 billion in missions, or 40%. Blue Origin received a smaller share, or about $2.4 billion.
“A robust and resilient space launch architecture is the foundation of both our economic prosperity and our national security,” U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said. “National Security Space Launch isn’t just a program; it’s a strategic necessity that delivers the critical space capabilities our warfighters depend on to fight and win.”
National security payloads encompass the various satellites to assist military and intelligence communities conducting operations around the world.
The Phase 3 deal anticipates 84 missions being awarded over the next five years, or through the 2029 fiscal year.
Military officials expect each mission to require two years to prepare, so the launches under the contract would occur between 2027 and 2032.
SpaceX and ULA launches are expected to take place from Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base, but specific sites for each depend on where the payload needs to be placed in space.
Under the contract, the military anticipates 28 launches for SpaceX, 19 for ULA and seven for Blue Origin.
“Winning 60% of the missions may sound generous, but the reality is that all SpaceX competitors combined cannot currently deliver the other 40%,” SpaceX’s Elon Musk said on social media. “I hope they succeed, but they aren’t there yet.”
SpaceX currently employs Space Launch Complex-4 for Falcon 9 liftoffs, but intends to add Space Launch Complex-6 to accommodate additional Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions.
In a written statement, ULA touted its history of launching 100 national security space missions previously. While Vulcan is its new launcher, the firm’s Atlas and Delta vehicles, both ready to retire, also have delivered national security payloads into orbit.
“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,” ULA’s Tory Bruno said.
Vulcan has launched from the East Coast and could make its West Coast debut as soon as late this year.
At Vandenberg, Space Launch Complex-3 has undergone modifications to accommodate the Vulcan rocket after the retirement of the Atlas V program.
“This award constitutes the most complex missions required for national security space,” Bruno said. “Vulcan continues to use the world’s highest energy upper stage; the Centaur V. Centaur V’s unmatched flexibility and extreme endurance enables the most complex orbital insertions continuing to advance our nation’s capabilities in space.”
The award announcement occurred days after ULA’s Vulcan completed the certification process to carry national security payloads.
The military prefers multiple launch providers to get its satellites into space in case one rocket experiences technical troubles or encounters other problems that make it unavailable for deliveries.
Blue Origin, the newest company, wouldn’t be eligible to win missions for its New Glenn rocket until the second year of ordering under the new deal.