The Space Force on Friday issued over $1 billion in launch contracts to Elon Musk's SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance for seven military missions starting in 2027.
Space Force awarded SpaceX $714 million for five launches as part of the National Security Space Launch Program, and awarded ULA $428 million for two launches, according to Friday reports. The National Security Space Launch Program procures launch services for various military space missions.
The United Launch Alliance was formed in 2006 as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
The Space Force in April selected SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin to launch 54 scheduled missions between 2027 and 2032, worth $13.7 billion. The branch awarded SpaceX over half the launches with 28. The Space Force plans to award individual missions in batches through 2029.
Blue Origin, however, is not yet certified to fly military launches, Air and Space Forces magazine reported. Its New Glenn rocket completed its first flight in January. Blue Origin is scheduled for a NASA mission later this month. Although Blue Origin wasn't eligible for this batch of launches, it will have another opportunity in 2027.
The newly-awarded missions included five missions for Space Force and two unspecified launches for the National Reconnaissance Office. The Space Force launches include a GPS satellite, a 12th wideband global satellite communications spacecraft, and three undisclosed missions.
You can follow Harrison Miller for more stock news and updates on X/Twitter @IBD_Harrison
