From CNBC: 2024-06-14 07:37:37

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, won a spot in the Pentagon’s rocket launch contract sweepstakes, earning a contract under the $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program. Along with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA), Blue Origin will compete for contracts through mid-2029.

In Phase 3 of the NSSL program, SpaceX has been competing for contracts and received 22 missions worth $2.5 billion in Phase 2 orders. Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman missed out on Phase 2, but under Phase 3, the competition expands with 90 rocket launch orders expected.

Space Force’s Phase 3 approach involves splitting the program into two lanes to allow more companies to bid, creating a competitive environment for Space Force mission contracts. The strategy includes a “mutual fund” approach to buying launches, with one lane for the most demanding missions and another for different types of missions.



Read more at CNBC: Pentagon picks Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA in $5.6 billion rocket program