- The Falcon 9 launches will lift off from Vandenberg
- The missions will carry payloads for the Space Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio
- The orders came through NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1
The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX two task orders worth a combined $1.6 billion covering 18 Falcon 9 launches. The missions will carry payloads for the Space Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio, Space Systems Command said Wednesday.
Every launch will lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. SSC expects the full set to be complete by the end of 2027. The awards came through Lane 1 of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contract.
How Quickly Did SSC Award the Task Orders?
Col. Eric Zarybnisky, acting portfolio acquisition executive for space access, put the timeline at two months from identifying the requirement to making the award. One of those months went to launch providers as they prepared proposals.
“Ultimately, this timeline results in the speed our warfighter demands more than ever before,” he said.
How Do the Awards Fit NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1?
Phase 3 splits launch work into two tracks. Lane 2 handles the most complex missions with the least tolerance for risk. Lane 1 takes SSC’s more risk-tolerant missions and runs closer to a commercial model, with faster awards, streamlined integration and mission assurance requirements that the customer can tailor.
The Space Force raised the Lane 1 ceiling this month from $5.6 billion to $17 billion, an increase of $11.4 billion spread among seven providers. Alongside SpaceX, the roster covers Blue Origin, Impulse Space, Relativity Federal, Rocket Lab, Stoke Space Technologies and United Launch Alliance.
What Other Lane 1 Task Orders Has SpaceX Received?
SSC issued nine task orders worth $739 million to the company in January, supporting the Space Development Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office. A further $178.5 million was allocated in April for two SDA-4 launches carrying Sierra Space-built missile-tracking satellites, with one flying from Cape Canaveral and the other from Vandenberg.
