SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin Win $13.5 Billion Space Force Launch Contract
The U.S. Space Force has awarded a massive $13.5 billion rocket launch contract to be split among three major aerospace companies: SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), and Blue Origin. According to Reuters, the contract will run through 2029, with each company responsible for launching some of the Pentagon’s most critical and technologically advanced satellites.
This highly competitive contract effectively establishes these three companies as America’s premier rocket suppliers, with each receiving a significant portion of the lucrative military launch business.
How the Contract Breaks Down
Elon Musk’s SpaceX secured the largest share of the contract, winning $5.9 billion for 28 missions. The company will utilize its proven Falcon 9 and more powerful Falcon Heavy rockets for these national security launches.
ULA, the joint venture between aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, was awarded $5.3 billion to conduct 19 missions. The company recently achieved a significant milestone when its new Vulcan rocket received Pentagon certification for national security missions earlier this month, following a review of a solid rocket booster failure during earlier testing.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin received the smallest portion but still secured a substantial $2.3 billion for seven missions. This represents a significant win for the company, whose New Glenn rocket only completed its first launch in January of this year. Despite having less experience than its competitors, Blue Origin has now firmly established itself in the military launch market.
Strategic Importance for U.S. Space Capabilities
This contract, known as the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3, is considered the most lucrative launch program in the United States. It plays a crucial role in maintaining America’s space defense capabilities by ensuring reliable access to orbit for the nation’s most sophisticated military satellites.
SpaceX has positioned itself as the dominant player in the global launch market, with its Falcon 9 rocket becoming the most frequently launched vehicle in the world. The company has already successfully completed dozens of military space missions in recent years, building a track record of reliability that has clearly influenced this contract award.
Meanwhile, ULA’s certification of the Vulcan rocket marks an important transition for the company as it moves away from its previous Atlas V rocket, which relied on Russian-made engines. The Vulcan represents a fully American-made alternative that satisfies congressional mandates to end reliance on Russian space technology.
For Blue Origin, despite having the least experience in the military launch sector, this contract represents a significant vote of confidence in the company’s growing capabilities and its New Glenn heavy-lift vehicle.
With these three companies officially designated as the Pentagon’s primary launch providers through 2029, the U.S. Space Force has established a competitive ecosystem that it hopes will drive innovation while ensuring consistent access to space for critical national security payloads.
