Blue Origin

Extra $11 billion to fund huge leap in Space Force launches

The service now expects 170 NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launches between 2025-2034, up from 60.

National security launch schedule not likely impacted by New Glenn disaster

NSSL will be okay because it can still rely on the Falcon 9 workhorse," said Todd Harrison, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit

The company's announcement did not explain how the new National Security Group would change, if at all, Blue Origin's current organization and/or practices under its national security unit headed since August by Tom Martin.

Blue Origin on track for NSSL certification after second successful New Glenn launch

Blue Origin also stuck the landing of New Glenn's reusable first stage, becoming only the second company after SpaceX to do so.

Space Force awards first next-gen critical launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA

While the number of launches contracted to Blue Origin is small, the award represents a vote of confidence for the company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.

ULA’s Vulcan rocket certified for national security launches

With that thumbs up from Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space program office in hand, ULA now is the second fully certified launch provider, along with SpaceX, cleared under the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reaches orbit in first test flight

Service leaders see the launch vehicle as a future competitor to SpaceX's Falcon series rockets that currently have a lock on the most critical launches under the Defense Department's National Security Space Launch program.

Space Force launches for ULA’s Vulcan slip to next year

Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, chief of the Space Force’s Space Systems Command, stated that the service will not move forward with awards for the newest round of the National Security Space Launch program until Congress approves the fiscal 2025 budget.

ULA’s Vulcan rocket makes second launch in quest to qualify for Space Force missions

Should Vulcan get the Space Force go-ahead, both planned NSSL missions are expected to fly by the end of the year as planned.

Blue Origin, Stoke join Space Force pool of small launch vendors

The OSP-4 contract vehicle was designed by the Space Force to allow both mature launch providers and promising new companies — that is, those judged as about a year away from launch capability — to vie for individual task orders for missions that don't require services under the more critical National Space Security Launch program.

ULA now plans September launch to qualify Vulcan for Space Force missions

ULA CEO Tory Bruno explained that Air Force space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli asked Lockheed Martin and Boeing to create an independent review team to "help" Vulcan production rates and launch site readiness remain on track.

Space Force orders 21 new National Security Space Launches: 11 to ULA, 10 to SpaceX

The planned launches, which will take place starting in FY26, include sending a second SILENTBARKER watchdog satellite jointly developed by the service and the National Reconnaissance Office to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).  

Space Force sticks to plan for 3 high-value launch providers through 2028

Interested companies have until Dec. 15 to respond to the service's dual requests for proposals: one for the critical, high-dollar NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches; and the other for Lane 1 small launches.

Space Force plans to ‘guarantee’ future launch missions with 3 providers faces near term challenge

While Space Systems Command hasn't publicly expressed concerns, outside observers point out that there is a real possibility that only Elon Musk's SpaceX will be able to undertake National Security Space Launches in the next few years.