SpaceX, operated by Elon Musk, has won an eight-launch contract under the "National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1" valued at $733 million.
SpaceX Launch Service Task Orders worth a total $733,566,001 in total have been awarded to SpaceX by the US Space Force's Space Systems Command under a "National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1" contract.
"We do not leave capability on the ground in this era of Great Power Competition," said Brigadier Gen Kristin Panzenhagen, programme executive officer for Assured Access to Space.
The Phase 3 Lane 1 construct enables us to execute launch services more rapidly for those more risk-tolerant payloads that put more capabilities on orbit faster to support national security, he said in a statement.
Seven launches of the Space Development Agency and one for the National Reconnaissance Office will be conducted no earlier than 2026 under a Space Force contract to SpaceX.
"We're excited to initiate our pioneering NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 effort with two task orders that underpin several of the most critical NRO and SDA missions," said Lt Col Douglas Downs, SSC's materiel leader for Space Launch Procurement.
Industry stepped up to the plate and delivered on this competition. Our innovative dual-lane strategy is enabling a streamlined process from mission acquisition to launch, getting our assets on orbit for our warfighters' benefit more quickly. Plus, with the ability to on-ramp new providers and systems annually, we expect to see increasing competition and diversity," Downs added.
The Phase 3 Lane 1 award period is fiscal years 2025 to fiscal years 2029, with a possible five-year extension.
Space Systems Command is the US Space Force's field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war-fighting capabilities to protect the nation's strategic advantage in, from, and to space.
SSC manages a USD 15.6 billion acquisition budget for space programmes under the Department of Defence and cooperates with joint forces, the industry, government agencies as well as academic organisations.
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