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SpaceX was award an eight - launch , $ 733 million contract by the U.S. Space Force on Friday , as part of an on-going program stand for to foster competition among launching providers .
The honour includes seven launch for the Space Development Agency and one for the National Reconnaissance Office , all foresee to use Falcon 9s and occur no originally than 2026 .
The massive new contract bridge is part of a U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command ( SSC ) programme with the catchy name of “ National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 . ” This third rung of contract bridge was split into two lanes last year : Lane 1 , for lower - jeopardy missions and near - Earth orbits ; and Lane 2 , for heavy - lift foreign mission and the more demanding electron orbit .
The Space Force selected SpaceX , United Launch Alliance and ( somehow , despite not getting to orbit yet ) Blue Origin to contend for launches under Lane 1 earlier this summer . At the time , the Space Force acknowledged that the syndicate of awardees was small , but that it place to account for this by allowing company to conjure on Lane 1 on an one-year basis . The next opportunity to join Lane 1 , which has a full expected time value of $ 5.6 billion over five years , will be later in 2024 .
In a press release announcing the contract , Lt . Col . Douglas Downs , SSC ’s equipage leader for space launch procurement , say the force expects to see “ increasing challenger and diversity ” with the ability to on - ramp new provider .
The Phase 3 Lane 1 award period is from financial class 2025 to fiscal year 2029 , with the potential for a five - year extension . The Space Force anticipates award at least 30 missions over that flow . The SpaceX win may seem like a foregone conclusion this clip , but withnew found troupe and vehiclescoming online in the next few years , the contender may heat up up presently .
