Summary: National Security Space Launch assignments include multiple missions for the National Reconnaissance Office, Global Positioning System and Wideband Global SATCOM satellites.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – On Oct. 1, the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) assigned seven Fiscal Year 2026 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) launch service missions under the Phase 3 Lane 2 contract.
Five missions are assigned to Hawthorne, Calif.-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) to launch USSF-206/WGS-12, USSF-155, NROL-86, USSF-149, and USSF-63. Two missions are assigned to Centennial, Colo.-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch NROL-88 and USSF-88/GPS IIIF-4. No missions were assigned to the third provider, Kent, Wash.-based Blue Origin Astronautics Company (Blue Origin), which has its next opportunity for a mission in FY27. The SpaceX assigned missions have a total price of $714 million and the ULA assigned missions have a total price of $428 million.
“Space is the ultimate high ground, critical for our national security. With this year’s NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 mission assignments, we continue to assure access to that high ground,” said Col. Eric Zarybnisky, program executive officer for Assured Access to Space. “Delivering assets to the warfighter is our ultimate mission, and we rely on our strong government-industry partnerships incorporating constant teamwork, open communication and the highest levels of technical acumen to successfully achieve that goal.”
NROL-86 and NROL-88 missions will be conducted with our National Reconnaissance Office partners and will launch from the Eastern Range into Higher Energy orbits.
USSF-88 is the fourth of the GPS III Follow-on (GPS IIIF) missions. GPS IIIF introduces several improvements and novel capabilities compared to previous GPS satellite blocks. USSF-88 will launch from the Eastern Range. USSF-206 is the twelfth in a series of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites. WGS provides worldwide, flexible, high-capacity communications for U.S. Government agencies, Department of War (DoW), multiple International Partners and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). USSF-63, USSF-149, and USSF-55 are launching from the Eastern Range.
Assured Access to Space executes the U.S. Space Force’s Core Competency of Space Mobility and Logistics. It secures reliable and responsive launch services to deploy the space-based capabilities needed by our Nation's warfighters, intelligence professionals, decision makers, allies, and partners. Additionally, it operates and sustains resilient and ready launch and test infrastructure to project on-orbit warfighting capability through all phases of conflict and to expand U.S. economic, technological, and scientific leadership. Further, Assured Access to Space delivers servicing, mobility, and logistics capabilities that operate in, from, and to the space domain.
SSC is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient warfighting capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the DoW and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, and academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
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