Washington, D.C. — April 5, 2025
The U.S. Space Force has awarded rocket launch contracts worth a total of $13.5 billion to SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), and Blue Origin, selecting them to carry out around 54 high-profile satellite missions through 2029.
The contracts are part of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3, Lane 2 program, the most competitive and lucrative space launch initiative undertaken by the U.S. military to date. The missions will be awarded incrementally through task orders and will focus on launching some of the Defense Department’s most sensitive and complex payloads into orbit.
Contract Breakdown
According to the Space Systems Command, the three companies received the following allocations:
SpaceX was awarded 28 missions, valued at $5.9 billion.
ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, secured 19 missions, worth $5.3 billion.
Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, received 7 missions, totaling $2.3 billion.
The awards recognize the selected companies as the most capable U.S. launch providers, though Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket—still relatively new with only one launch to date—has less operational experience compared to SpaceX and ULA.
Proven Launch Capabilities
SpaceX, led by CEO Elon Musk, remains the world’s most active launch company. Its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have completed dozens of military and intelligence missions. With its unmatched launch frequency and reusable technology, SpaceX is expected to handle the majority of launches in the early years of Phase 3.
ULA will use its newly certified Vulcan rocket, which had its first two launches last year. Despite early setbacks, including a mishap involving solid rocket motors, the Pentagon approved Vulcan for national security missions following an extensive review.
Blue Origin, while the least experienced of the three in terms of government launches, was selected for future missions based on progress with its launch systems. Its involvement reflects the military’s interest in diversifying its options for strategic space access.
Shift in Industry Leadership
The awards highlight a shift in industry dominance. In Phase 2 of the NSSL program, ULA won 60% of the missions, with SpaceX receiving 40%. However, delays in ULA’s Vulcan development forced the Pentagon to shift some of those missions to SpaceX. Now, in Phase 3, SpaceX has emerged as the clear front-runner, both in performance and contract value.
“This award reinforces our leadership in national security space launches,” said a SpaceX spokesperson.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno expressed confidence in Vulcan’s future. “We are very pleased to be awarded 40% of the Phase 3 procurement. Vulcan is the right choice for critical national security missions and is the only rocket today designed to meet all the requirements of our nation’s space launch needs,” Bruno said.
Musk Responds
Elon Musk weighed in on the announcement on his social media platform X, writing:
” Winning 60% of the missions may sound generous, but the reality is that all SpaceX competitors combined cannot currently deliver the other 40%! I hope they succeed, but they aren’t there yet.”
Musk, who holds advisory roles in government and has become increasingly influential in federal aerospace policies, continues to play a major role in shaping the future of American space defense operations.
Looking Ahead
The Phase 3 contracts are a major step in securing U.S. military dominance in space. As global competition intensifies, the Pentagon is relying on these three companies to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective launch capabilities for some of its most critical satellite systems.
With dozens of missions scheduled through 2029, SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin are now firmly at the center of America’s space launch future.
Leave a Reply