SpaceX Wins String Of Launches For NSSL Phase 3, Lane 1
SpaceX launches a batch of Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for SDA on Oct. 15 2025. Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX has received $739 million in new task orders for Phase 3, Lane 1 of National Security Space Launch (NSSL), according to U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC).
The nine launches of Space Development Agency (SDA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites are to start late this year and end in fiscal 2028.
“SSC awarded the SDA-2 missions to SpaceX for launches projected to begin in 4QFY26, and awarded the SDA-3 missions to SpaceX for launches to begin in 3QFY27,” the command said on Friday. “SSC also awarded the NTO-5 launches to SpaceX projected to occur in 1QFY27 and 2QFY28.”
Under SDA-2, SpaceX is to launch 18 of the SDA’s Tranche 2, Tracking Layer satellites by L3Harris Technologies and eight Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter satellites by Boeing’s Millenium Space Systems. SDA-3 calls for SpaceX to launch 18 Tranche 2, Tracking Layer satellites by Lockheed Martin, while NTO-5 is an undisclosed NRO mission.
NSSL Phase 3, Lane 1 is for launches involving non-critical payloads, while NSSL Phase 3, Lane 2 is for launches related to “assured access and the highest reliability for our most demanding, least risk-tolerant payloads,” according to SSC.
In 2024, SSC awarded SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) an umbrella contract worth up to $5.6 billion for Phase 3, Lane 1 of NSSL.
In March, Stoke Space Technologies and Rocket Lab USA became eligible to receive Phase 3, Lane 1 task orders under the $5.6 billion umbrella contract.
This story was first published by Defense Daily
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