Summary: Two additional space launch providers are being added to the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract, bringing the total to seven providers in an effort to strengthen and diversify our Nation’s access to space
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Space Access awarded two additional Firm Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts to Impulse Space and Relativity Federal. The two providers join Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA who were on-ramped in FY24, and Rocket Lab and Stoke Space who were on-ramped in FY25.
Similar to how goods delivered throughout the world rely on various modes of transportation by multiple carriers, the NSSL program leverages its Phase 3 Dual Lane acquisition construct to expand the ways to get national security assets to orbit.
“These new awardees, together with the other providers already on the Lane 1 contract, are building the next generation of launch vehicles. This is critical at a time when our launch cadence is rapidly increasing and our customers are relying on us to deliver everything they need to provide for the security of our nation and allies,” said USSF Col. Eric Zarybnisky, acting portfolio acquisition executive for Space Access. “Today’s awards create new partnerships that further expand our industrial base; improving our resiliency and responsiveness so that we can reliably deliver critical defense capabilities on orbit for the security of our nation.”
The NSSL program is the single largest procurement activity in the U.S. Space Force; and increasing the number of providers to the Phase 3 program improves USSF flexibility to meet growing launch requirements.
“The increase to seven providers in the third year of our NSSL Lane 1 contract is exactly the kind of result we envisioned when we developed our dual-lane strategy to address the changing needs of our customers,” added Zarybnisky. “We have numerous upcoming missions that the Lane 1 launch providers will be able to compete for as soon as they’ve successfully launched at least once.”
The NSSL Phase 3 program utilized a dual-lane acquisition model to award two separate contract types for different customer needs. In contrast with the more traditional, unique and challenging Lane 2 missions with little tolerance for risk, the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract provides commercial-like launch services for Space Systems Command’s (SSC) more risk-tolerant missions. The Lane 1 contract focuses on rapid contract award, streamlined integration phases and reduced timelines from award to launch. The additional component of highly tailorable interface requirements and government mission assurance posture for different satellite customers, make Lane 1 a desirable choice due to lower launch costs and reduced time to launch.
Impulse and Relativity will each receive a $5 million FFP Task Order to conduct an initial capabilities assessment and develop their approach to tailored mission assurance. Tailored mission assurance is a tiered approach to the government’s breadth and depth of the launch vehicle baseline understanding and the associated risks to the mission.
SSC is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of War, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
-30-
Media representatives may submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an
e-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil