US Defense awards $661 million contract to SpaceX and $1.1 billion to ULA

US Department of Defense has announced $661 million for SpaceX and $1.1 billion to United Launch Alliance (ULA) through a modification to a previously awarded contract for National Security Space (NSS) Launch Phase Two launch service procurement for NSS launch services.

This procurement ranges from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2024 for launches between 2022 and 2027. The modification for SpaceX has brought the total estimated face value of the contract to $4,00,000,000 from $3,338,974,597.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle lifting off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California (Image Source – SpaceX)

These operations will be performed from Hawthorne, California, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. These are expected to wrap up by March 31, 2028.

With the same launch service procurement timeline, ULA’s contract modification has brought the total estimated face value to $4,500,000,000 from $3,399,701,964.

The launch service provider will conduct these launches from Centennial, Colorado, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. These are expected to be completed by March 31, 2028.

(source)