Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off from its Florida launch pad in January. (Blue Origin via YouTube)
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture has been awarded $2.4 billion in the U.S. Space Force’s latest round of procurement for future national security launches.
“It’s an honor and huge responsibility to team with the U.S. government to launch our nation’s most important assets,” Jarrett Jones, Blue Origin’s senior vice president for New Glenn, said today in a news release. “Through this partnership, we’re looking forward to delivering on a number of critical national security priorities.”
The newly announced round — which is known as National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 — also allotted $5.9 billion in contracts to SpaceX, and $5.4 billion to United Launch Alliance.
The launch contracts will cover about 54 missions, with contracts to be awarded between now and the end of fiscal year 2029. The launches themselves are expected to take place during a period running from fiscal year 2027 to 2032. SpaceX is expected to get 28 missions, ULA would get 19 missions, and Blue Origin would be awarded seven missions starting next year.
Blue Origin would use its New Glenn rocket, which had its first test launch in January and is due for its second launch by the middle of this year. For what it’s worth, New Glenn hasn’t yet been officially certified for national security launches, but the Space Force expects that to happen by next year. SpaceX would use its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, while ULA would use its Vulcan rocket.
The National Security Space Launch program is designed to widen the commercial options available to the Space Force for its missions.
“A robust and resilient space launch architecture is the foundation of both our economic prosperity and our national security,” Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force’s chief of space operations, said in today’s news release. “National Security Space Launch isn’t just a program; it’s a strategic necessity that delivers the critical space capabilities our warfighters depend on to fight and win.”
Today’s announcement follows up on the Space Force’s Phase 3 Lane 1 procurement process, which is meant to apply to commercial-like space missions that can accept more risk. Last year, Kent, Wash.-based Blue Origin joined SpaceX and ULA on the list for $5.6 billion in Lane 1 mission contracts — and last week, Kent-based Stoke Space and California-based Rocket Lab USA were added to that Lane 1 list.
