DoD Adds $11.4B to NatSec Launch Contracts

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20 Jul 2026


News

PAYLOAD - The DoD upped its ceiling for national security space launches (NSSL) by $11.4B on Friday, more than tripling the pool of NSSL launch contracts from $5.6B to $17B.

The companies standing to benefit are the seven launcher providers already selected under the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program:

  • Blue Origin
  • Impulse Space
  • Relativity Space
  • Rocket Lab
  • SpaceX
  • Stoke Space
  • United Launch Alliance

Send it: The contract increase is the latest example of the US government throwing resources behind its launch program to counter Russian and Chinese advances in space.



Note:  Blue Origin and Stoke Space are headquartered in Kent, while Relativity Space maintains an office and United Launce Alliance uses Blue Origin's BE-4 rockets in its primary launch vehicle.

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