Space Force awards $739 million in launch orders to SpaceX
The U.S. Space Force announced Jan. 9 it awarded SpaceX nine national security space launch missions worth $739 million, issuing task orders under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program.
In the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract, pre-selected launch providers compete for individual missions. The customers for these nine missions are the Space Development Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office.
The Space Development Agency is responsible for acquiring and fielding large constellations of low Earth orbit satellites to support missile warning, tracking, communications and data transport for U.S. military forces. The National Reconnaissance Office builds and operates classified satellite systems that provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the U.S. government.
Five of the nine launches support SDA satellite deployments tied to the agency's proliferated missile warning and tracking architecture.
Under an SDA-2 task order, SpaceX was awarded two launches carrying 18 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites each, built by L3Harris, and one launch carrying eight Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (F2) satellites built by Millennium Space Systems.
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Under an SDA-3 task order, SpaceX received two additional launches, each carrying 18 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
The SDA Tracking Layer is a low Earth orbit constellation designed to detect and track advanced missile threats and is being deployed in increments known as tranches. The F2 program is a demonstration intended to determine whether satellites in low Earth orbit can deliver data precisely and fast enough to support missile defense engagements, not just missile tracking. The program focuses on fire-control-quality tracking, the accuracy required to cue interceptors against advanced and maneuvering missile threats.
The remaining four launches are for the NRO under an NTO-5 task order, the Space Systems Command said.
SDA-2 launches are projected to begin in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, with SDA-3 missions expected to start in the third quarter of fiscal year 2027. The NRO's NTO-5 launches are projected for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 and the second quarter of fiscal year 2028.
The awards underscore SpaceX's growing dominance in the NSSL program. United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket is the only other vehicle currently certified to compete for these missions.
Under Phase 3, the Space Force split the national security launch market into two lanes. Lane 1 covers missions where price, speed and launch cadence are prioritized over customized engineering, and was designed to take advantage of commercially mature launch systems. Lane 2 is reserved for the most demanding missions, including heavy payloads, unique orbits and higher assurance requirements.
The Space Force's Space Systems Command has on-ramped new entrants including Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to compete for Lane 1 missions once their launch vehicles begin flying commercially.
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