The Pentagon recently announced the first winning bidders in its rocket launch contract sweepstakes, with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin securing a spot for the first time. This development comes as part of the contracts awarded under the Pentagon’s $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) were also among the recipients of contracts in the multi-year third phase of the NSSL program.
Under the program, known as NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA will have the opportunity to compete for contracts through mid-2029. This marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as the company had previously missed out on Phase 2 when the Pentagon selected ULA and SpaceX for the program in August 2020. With Phase 3, the U.S. military is raising the stakes and expanding the playing field for a high-profile competition for Space Force mission contracts.
Phase 3 of the NSSL program is expected to see a total of 90 rocket launch orders, with a split approach of categories Lane 1 and Lane 2 to accommodate even more companies vying for contracts. The inclusion of new bidders like Blue Origin signifies a shift in the competitive landscape of the space launch industry, with established players like SpaceX and ULA facing increased competition for lucrative government contracts.
The Pentagon’s decision to award rocket launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA highlights the growing importance of commercial space companies in the realm of national security and space exploration. As companies like Blue Origin continue to expand their reach and capabilities, the space industry is poised for further innovation and collaboration in the years to come. With Phase 3 of the NSSL program set to continue until 2029, the competition among space launch providers is only expected to intensify, leading to advancements in technology and capability that will benefit both government and commercial space missions.