### SpaceX Secures Eight Military Launch Contracts from US Space Force

SpaceX has won all eight launch contracts the US Space Force's Space Systems Command opened for bidding this year, cementing its dominance over competitor United Launch Alliance (ULA) in a highly competitive landscape. This first batch of launches represents a crucial phase in securing national security launch contracts, with SpaceX set to conduct missions valued at approximately $733.5 million, or $91.7 million per launch.

The contracts, divided into two fixed-price task orders, include seven missions for the Space Development Agency (SDA) and one for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The SDA missions involve deploying a constellation of satellites designed for missile tracking and data relay, while the NRO mission will support the US government's intelligence activities. All eight launches will take place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, starting as early as late 2025.

These awards are part of the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 procurement effort, which is split into two lanes. The task orders granted to SpaceX fall under Lane 1, which covers less demanding launch profiles to low-Earth orbit. Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, a key figure in the space launch procurement process, expressed excitement about the innovative effort, praising the industry's robust response to the competition.

The Phase 3 program consists of 79 missions up for grabs, with at least 30 designated for Lane 1. These missions largely involve launching small satellites for the Pentagon’s SDA, which aims to create a proliferated satellite network to detect and neutralize missile threats.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, along with ULA’s Vulcan rocket, were the only eligible vehicles for the Lane 1 contracts due to the requirement of having at least one successful orbital launch. This criterion excluded Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, scheduled for its first test flight later this year. Despite this, Blue Origin remains a potential competitor for future contracts, along with other companies like Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, Relativity Space, and Stoke Space.

The more challenging and higher-stakes Lane 2 missions, involving larger payloads intended for higher orbits, are expected to see contract awards soon. These missions demand rockets with rigorous certification, a process currently underway for ULA's Vulcan launcher and eventually Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, pending successful test flights.

As it stands, SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are the most reliable and certified launch vehicles, reinforcing SpaceX's lead in the competition for these lucrative national security launch contracts.