Rocket Lab shares take off after US Space Force taps aerospace company for coveted launch program
Rocket Lab joins established rivals like Blue Origin and SpaceX to compete for $5.6 billion in contracts.
The Space Systems Command announced that Rocket Lab and Stoke Space would join Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program. This contract opens the door for selected companies to compete for launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions up for grabs — amounting to an estimated $5.6 billion in task orders.
The Space Force’s executive officer praised the new additions for bringing “innovative approaches and increased competition” to the program, positioning them as a new generation of launch providers. Rocket Lab plans to qualify for the program with its Neutron rocket, which is set for its first launch in the second half of the year. If successful, Rocket Lab — which already earns nearly half its revenue from government contracts — will be eligible to compete for individual orders under the NSSL program.
“There are a number of reasons both the US government and commercial providers want an alternative way to reach orbit,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told Sherwood News in a recent interview. “With a surge of government and commercial constellations coming to market in the next few years, they all require reliable launch services.”
Rocket Lab is down about 27% year to date heading into today’s session.
