These missions require medium-sized or small rockets capable of high-rate launch cadences comparable to the capabilities of large launch vehicles. In June, the Space Force selected SpaceX, ULA and Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin to compete for the Lane 1 launch mission.
Military officials plan to add more companies to the pool of available Lane 1 launch providers as the rocket is completed. These companies may include Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, Relativity Space, Stoke Space, and more.
Blue Origin is on the Space Force’s list of available launch providers, but its New Glenn rocket was not included in the contract announced Friday. Military officials require a rocket to successfully complete at least one orbital launch to qualify for a Lane 1 mission order. New Glenn’s first test flight is scheduled for later this year.
The rule left SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and ULA’s Vulcan rockets the only launch vehicles subject to the mission order, opening up direct competition between rival rocket companies. SpaceX came out on top, winning all eight Lane 1 missions it competed in this year.
Lane 2 of the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Program covers larger, more expensive payloads destined for more difficult military missions, typically higher orbits. The Space Force is expected to select a launch provider for the Lane 2 mission soon. These launches require the rocket to be certified by the Space Force, but the military is willing to accept some risk for Lane 1 missions.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are currently certified for national security launches, and the Space Force is in the process of qualifying ULA’s Vulcan launcher after two successful test flights. The Space Force and Blue Origin also have plans to certify the New Glenn rocket, but first it must complete several successful test flights.
