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Program tracker · US Space Force, Space Systems Command
For launch-industry BD teams, investors in SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin and the Lane 1 entrants, and policy readers tracking assured access to space.
Sources: Space Systems Command, Space Access awards 2 contracts to on-ramp new providers to NSSL (Jul 8, 2026); Space Systems Command Public Affairs, SSC hosts Industry Day in preparation for National Security Space Launch (Sep 4, 2025); Space Systems Command, SSC Awards Three Contracts for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Jun 13, 2024)
Sources: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force certifies United Launch Alliance Vulcan for National Security Space Launch missions (Mar 26, 2025); Space Systems Command, Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance successfully launch USSF-87 (Feb 12, 2026); Space Systems Command, USSF prioritizes GPS III capability delivery timeline, executes launch provider exchange for NSSL mission (Mar 20, 2026)
Sources: Space Systems Command, Space Systems Command continues New Glenn's certification process for National Security Space Launch (Nov 13, 2025); Space Systems Command, SSC Releases NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 FY26 Mission Assignments (Oct 3, 2025); Space Systems Command, Space Force awards Blue Origin task order to launch NRO mission (May 29, 2026)
Curated rows checked against their sources on Sep 27, 2026; database rows (awards, satellites, launches) are read live and cached for an hour. Every fact links its source. Nothing here is sponsored, and no company can pay to change, reorder or preview it. Spotted an error? Report a correction.
Compiled Sep 28, 2026 from 7 public records. Every figure links the record it comes from.
Obligated on USAspending awards matched to the program by our rule
$9.04B on 155 awards
Largest recipient: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP., $5.25B
Money actually obligated on the rows our rule matches, for the companies we track; an announced ceiling is not obligation. The rule is printed under the awards table.
| Announced | Contractor | What | Value as announced | Award record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Relativity Federal (a Relativity Space subsidiary)for US Space Force | Lane 1 on-ramp (fiscal 2026): one of two providers added, bringing Lane 1 to sevenFirm-fixed-price IDIQ (on-ramp)The same $5.6 billion maximum cumulative ceiling as the 2024 Lane 1 award. A $5 million initial task order. Not on USAspending when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: US Department of War, Contracts for July 7, 2026 |
No public data in our pipeline yet: our FFATA subaward table holds no record for this program's award IDs. Primes report first-tier subawards to USAspending, and we will list them here when our subaward sync reaches these awards.
Sources: ULA, ULA Building Rocket of the Future with Industry-Leading Strategic Partnerships (Sep 27, 2018); Blue Origin and ULA, ULA and Blue Origin Announce Production Agreement for American-Made BE-4 Engine
NSSL buys launches, not satellites. The payloads belong to the Space Force, the National Reconnaissance Office and other government customers, many of them classified; they are listed by launch below.
37 on the schedule; 0 have slipped at least once since we began recording on Aug 29, 2026. A date is shown only as precisely as the schedule knows it.
| Scheduled | Mission | Rocket | Slip history |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | Falcon Heavy | NROL-97Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-57 |
No public data: this tracker does not follow launch licences or range approvals for national security missions.
BE-4 qualified in 2017 for a first Vulcan flight in 2019
ULA and Blue Origin (joint release), Sep 10, 2015. Deadline as stated: first Vulcan flight in 2019 (read as Dec 31, 2019).
"Development is on schedule to achieve qualification for flight in 2017 to support the first Vulcan flight in 2019."
Said in: Blue Origin and ULA, ULA and Blue Origin Announce Production Agreement for American-Made BE-4 Engine (Sep 10, 2015)
Met late, Jan 8, 2024 (1,469 days after the deadline). Vulcan's first flight (Cert-1).
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force participates in certification milestone of future launch capability
How this page is built: the contract values under “As announced”, the suppliers, the schedule statements and the context are curated from primary sources and dated. The USAspending awards, GCAT payloads and launches are our own database rows, matched to the program by the rule printed under each table, so a row the rule misses is absent rather than guessed. Cite as “SpaceNexus program tracker: National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 and Phase 3” with the link and the date you read it.
Contracts announced by the customer or the contractor
20 announced awards
Newest: Relativity Federal (a Relativity Space subsidiary), Lane 1 on-ramp (fiscal 2026): one of two providers added, bringing Lane 1 to seven
Source: US Department of War
Announced Jul 7, 2026
Launches flown for the program
24 launches
24 full successes, 0 partial, 0 failed
Counted from our Launch Library record, which begins 2024-11-18.
Source: Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)
Latest Sep 26, 2026
Launches on the schedule
37; 0 slipped
Next: Falcon Heavy | NROL-97, Oct 2, 2026
A slip counts only when both dates were known to the day (the Launch Ledger rule), so a placeholder date rolling forward is not a slip.
Source: Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)
Schedule read; slips recorded since 2026-08-29 Sep 28, 2026
APA
SpaceNexus. (2026, September 28). National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 and Phase 3: Program tracker [Data set]. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://spacenexus.us/programs/nssl
Chicago
SpaceNexus. "National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 and Phase 3: Program tracker." Data as of September 28, 2026. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://spacenexus.us/programs/nssl.
BibTeX
@misc{spacenexus_nationalsecurityspacelaunchnsslp_2026,
author = {{SpaceNexus}},
title = {{National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 and Phase 3}: Program tracker},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
howpublished = {\url{https://spacenexus.us/programs/nssl}},
url = {https://spacenexus.us/programs/nssl},
urldate = {2026-09-28},
note = {Data as of 2026-09-28; each fact links its primary source}
}| $5.6 billionceiling |
| FA8811-26-D-B002 |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Impulse Spacefor US Space Force | Lane 1 on-ramp (fiscal 2026): one of two providers added, bringing Lane 1 to sevenFirm-fixed-price IDIQ (on-ramp)The same $5.6 billion maximum cumulative ceiling as the 2024 Lane 1 award. A $5 million initial task order. Not on USAspending when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: US Department of War, Contracts for July 7, 2026 (Jul 7, 2026); Space Systems Command, Space Access awards 2 contracts to on-ramp new providers to NSSL (Jul 8, 2026) | $5.6 billionceiling | FA8811-26-D-B001 |
| May 29, 2026 | Blue Originfor US Space Force | Lane 1 task order: NTO-4, one NRO launch between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028Task orderNo value was stated. Sources: Space Systems Command, Space Force awards Blue Origin task order to launch NRO mission (May 29, 2026) | Not publishedtask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Apr 1, 2026 | SpaceXfor US Space Force | Lane 1 task order: SDA-4 (two launches)Task order Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC awards task orders to launch missile tracking space vehicles (Apr 1, 2026) | $178.5 milliontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Jan 9, 2026 | SpaceXfor US Space Force | Lane 1 task orders: nine launches for SDA-2, SDA-3 and NTO-5Task orders Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC awards task orders to launch missile warning and missile tracking (Jan 9, 2026) | $739 milliontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Oct 3, 2025 | SpaceX and ULAfor US Space Force | Lane 2 order year 2 (fiscal 2026): 5 missions to SpaceX ($714 million), 2 to ULA ($428 million), none to Blue OriginMission assignmentsOur sum of the two announced amounts. SpaceX: USSF-206, USSF-155, NROL-86, USSF-149 and USSF-63. ULA: NROL-88 and USSF-88. Blue Origin's next opportunity is fiscal 2027. Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC Releases NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 FY26 Mission Assignments (Oct 3, 2025) Unconfirmed: The release lists USSF-155 but calls it USSF-55 later in its text. | $1.14 billiontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Apr 7, 2025 | SpaceX and ULAfor US Space Force | Lane 2 order year 1 (fiscal 2025): 7 missions to SpaceX ($845.8 million), 2 to ULA ($427.6 million)Mission assignmentsOur sum of the two announced amounts. SpaceX: NROL-96, NROL-97, NROL-157, USSF-186, USSF-234, USSF-174 and USSF-15. ULA: USSF-50 and USSF-49. Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC Releases NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 FY25 Mission Assignments (Apr 7, 2025) | $1.27 billiontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Apr 4, 2025 | SpaceXfor US Space Force | Phase 3 Lane 2: about 28 missions, fiscal 2025 to 2029 (about 60% of the SpaceX and ULA missions)Firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contractThe anticipated value as announced. Completion expected April 2033. Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for April 4, 2025 (Apr 4, 2025); Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, SSC awards NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts (Apr 4, 2025) | $5.92 billionestimated | FA8811-25-D-B002 |
| Apr 4, 2025 | United Launch Services (ULA)for US Space Force | Phase 3 Lane 2: about 19 missions (about 40%)Firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for April 4, 2025 (Apr 4, 2025); Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, SSC awards NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts (Apr 4, 2025) | $5.37 billionestimated | FA8811-25-D-B003 |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Blue Originfor US Space Force | Phase 3 Lane 2: a projected 7 missions from order year 2 (fiscal 2026)Firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for April 4, 2025 (Apr 4, 2025); Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, SSC awards NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts (Apr 4, 2025); Blue Origin, New Glenn Awarded Critical National Security Space Launch Contract (Apr 4, 2025) | $2.39 billionestimated | FA8811-25-D-B005 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | Rocket Lab National Securityfor US Space Force | Lane 1 on-ramp (fiscal 2025): eligible for task orders after its first successful launchFirm-fixed-price IDIQ (on-ramp)The same $5.6 billion maximum cumulative ceiling as the 2024 Lane 1 award. A $5 million initial task order. On-ramped together with Stoke Space. Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for March 27, 2025 (Mar 27, 2025); Space Systems Command, SSC on-ramps two new providers to NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Mar 27, 2025) | $5.6 billionceiling | FA8811-25-D-B007 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | Stoke Space Technologiesfor US Space Force | Lane 1 on-ramp (fiscal 2025): eligible for task orders after its first successful launchFirm-fixed-price IDIQ (on-ramp)The same $5.6 billion maximum cumulative ceiling as the 2024 Lane 1 award. A $5 million initial task order. On-ramped together with Rocket Lab. Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for March 27, 2025 (Mar 27, 2025); Space Systems Command, SSC on-ramps two new providers to NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Mar 27, 2025) | $5.6 billionceiling | FA8811-25-D-B006 |
| Oct 18, 2024 | SpaceXfor US Space Force | Lane 1 task orders: SDA-1 (seven launches) and NTO-2Task orders Sources: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command Issues Two (2) Task Orders for National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 (Oct 18, 2024) | $733.6 milliontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Jun 13, 2024 | SpaceX, ULA and Blue Originfor US Space Force | Phase 3 Lane 1: multiple-award IDIQ, five-year ordering period to June 2029 plus a five-year option; at least 30 missions expectedFirm-fixed-price IDIQA maximum cumulative ceiling for the multiple-award contract; the 2025 and 2026 on-ramp notices state the same $5.6 billion. Award IDs FA8811-24-D-B001 (ULA), B002 (Blue Origin) and B003 (SpaceX). Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for June 13, 2024 (Jun 13, 2024); Space Systems Command, SSC Awards Three Contracts for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Jun 13, 2024) | $5.6 billionceiling | FA8811-24-D-B001 |
| Oct 31, 2023 | ULA and SpaceXfor US Space Force | Phase 2 order year 5 (fiscal 2024, the last): 21 missions, 11 to ULA and 10 to SpaceX, bringing Phase 2 to 48 missions against 34 first estimatedTask ordersNo values were published. Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC announces 21 mission assignments for NSSL Phase 2 Procurement (Oct 31, 2023) | Not publishedtask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Jun 8, 2023 | SpaceX and ULAfor US Space Force | Phase 2 order year 4 (fiscal 2023): 12 missions. SpaceX: SDA T1TL-B, T1TL-C, T1TL-D, T1TL-E, T1TR-C and USSF-31. ULA: NROL-64, NROL-83, GPS III-8, SDA T1TR-B, T1TR-D and USSF-114Task ordersNo values were published. Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC assigns 12 missions for NSSL Phase 2 FY23 Order Year (Jun 8, 2023) | Not publishedtask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| May 26, 2022 | ULA and SpaceXfor US Space Force | Phase 2 order year 3 (fiscal 2022): 8 missions. ULA on Vulcan: GPS III-7, USSF-23, USSF-43, WGS-11+, USSF-16. SpaceX on Falcon 9: USSF-124, USSF-62 and one SDA Tranche 1 Transport missionTask ordersNo values were published. Sources: Space Systems Command, SSC Issues Launch Task Orders for FY22 NSS Missions (May 26, 2022) | Not publishedtask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Mar 9, 2021 | ULA and SpaceXfor US Space Force | Phase 2 order year 2 (fiscal 2021): USSF-112 and USSF-87 to ULA ($224.3 million); USSF-36 and NROL-69 to SpaceX ($159.7 million)Task ordersOur sum of the two announced amounts ($224,290,000 and $159,721,445). Sources: US Department of Defense, Contracts for March 9, 2021 (Mar 9, 2021) | $384 milliontask orders | No USAspending record linked |
| Aug 7, 2020 | United Launch Services (ULA)for US Space Force | Phase 2 launch services: about 60% of orders, fiscal 2020 to 2024, for launches from fiscal 2022 to 2027Firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contractThe first order year's task orders (USSF-51 and USSF-106, with launch service support). No total contract value was announced. USSF-51 flew on an Atlas V on July 30, 2024. Sources: Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Space Force awards National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service contracts (Aug 7, 2020); US Department of Defense, Contracts for Aug. 7, 2020 (Aug 7, 2020); ULA, Atlas V USSF-51 (mission page) (Jul 30, 2024) | $337 millionfirst orders | FA8811-20-D-0001 |
| Aug 7, 2020 | SpaceXfor US Space Force | Phase 2 launch services: about 40% of ordersFirm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contractThe first order year's task orders (USSF-67, with launch service support). The DoD notice prints the award ID as FA2211-20-D-0002; USAspending has FA8811-20-D-0002. Sources: Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Space Force awards National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service contracts (Aug 7, 2020); US Department of Defense, Contracts for Aug. 7, 2020 (Aug 7, 2020) | $316 millionfirst orders | FA8811-20-D-0002 |
The Space Force buys NSSL launches as task orders under indefinite-delivery contracts, assigning missions to providers each order year. USAspending lists the SpaceX and ULA Lane 2 contracts with ceilings of exactly double their announced anticipated values ($11.85 billion and $10.73 billion), while Blue Origin's matches its announced $2.39 billion; each of the three shows two administrative modifications with no stated reason (checked September 27, 2026). The announced figures are above.
155 award records with $9.04 billion obligated, dated Mar 10, 2021 to Jun 2, 2026. Obligated means money actually put on contract, not an announced ceiling. Newest row read from USAspending on Sep 24, 2026.
| Recipient | Awards | Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | 80 | $5.25 billion |
| UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | 66 | $3.65 billion |
| BLUE ORIGIN, LLC | 7 | $138 million |
| ROCKET LAB NATIONAL SECURITY LLC | 1 | $5 million |
| STOKE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | 1 | $5 million |
| Award ID | Recipient | Description (the government's words) | Date | Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA881125FB001 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 3 LANE 1 | Oct 18, 2024 | $540.7 million |
| FA881125FB018 |
An indefinite-delivery vehicle's own amount is the sum of the orders placed under it, and those orders are counted above, so vehicles are listed but never added.
Our USAspending mirror is filled company by company for the 323 companies we track, so awards to anyone else are not in it. Rule: USAspending contract rows from the Space Force launch contracting office (award IDs beginning FA8811) whose own description names National Security Space Launch, NSSL, a Phase 3 lane, Phase 2 launch services or a launch service task order. Orders whose description names only the mission are left out, so the total is a floor. Source: USAspending.gov (US Treasury).
Sources: ULA, ULA Selects Orbital ATK to Provide Solid Boosters for Atlas V and Vulcan (Sep 22, 2015); Northrop Grumman, Northrop Grumman's Solid Rocket Boosters Help Power First Launch of ULA's Vulcan Rocket (Jan 8, 2024)
Sources: ULA, ULA Selects Aerojet Rocketdyne's RL10 Engine for Vulcan Centaur Upper Stage (May 11, 2018); L3Harris, L3Harris Completes Aerojet Rocketdyne Acquisition (Jul 28, 2023)
Sources: ULA, ULA Building Rocket of the Future with Industry-Leading Strategic Partnerships (Sep 27, 2018)
Unconfirmed: ULA says "as previously announced"; the original selection announcements were not found.
| Vulcan |
| No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-64Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-31Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Falcon Heavy | USSF-75Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-100Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-109Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-56Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-73Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | NROL-83Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | SILENTBARKER 2/NROL-118Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-112Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-114Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-16Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-23Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-25Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | USSF-43Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | WGS-11Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| Q1 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | WSF-M2 & BLAZE-2 (USSF-178)Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q2 2027 | Vulcan | USSF-95Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-149Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Falcon Heavy | NROL-86Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Falcon Heavy | USSF-155Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Falcon Heavy | USSF-63Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Falcon Heavy | WGS-12 (USSF-206)Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2027 | Vulcan VC4S | NROL-88Launch Library record | Vulcan VC4S | No slip recorded |
| Q3 2028 | Vulcan | USSF-70Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2028 | Vulcan | GPS IIIF SV01Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2029 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-96Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2029 | Vulcan VC2S | GPS IIIF SV04 (USSF-88)Launch Library record | Vulcan VC2S | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-157Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-234Launch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Falcon Heavy | USSF-174Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Falcon Heavy | USSF-186Launch Library record | Falcon Heavy | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Vulcan | GPS IIIF SV02 (USSF-49)Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Vulcan | GPS IIIF SV03 (USSF-15)Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2020s | Vulcan | NGG-2 (USSF-50)Launch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
24 flown in our record (it begins Nov 18, 2024): 24 successes, 0 partial failures, 0 failures. Launch outcomes are the launch vehicle's, as Launch Library records them.
Showing the 15 most recent of 24.
Rule: Launch Library launches of Space Force (USSF), National Reconnaissance Office (NROL), GPS III and WGS missions on the heavy vehicles NSSL buys (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Vulcan, Atlas V, Delta IV, New Glenn). Launch Library does not record which contract bought each launch, so a few NRO missions bought outside NSSL may appear. SDA launches, which NSSL also buys, are listed on the SDA tracker. Slips use the Launch Ledger rule: a move counts only when both dates were known to the day, so a placeholder rolling from one month or year to the next is never a slip. Schedule data from Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).
Vulcan first flight in mid-2020
ULA (release), Sep 27, 2018. Deadline as stated: mid-2020 (read as Sep 30, 2020).
"is making strong progress in development and is on track for its initial flight in mid-2020"
Said in: ULA, ULA Building Rocket of the Future with Industry-Leading Strategic Partnerships (Sep 27, 2018)
Met late, Jan 8, 2024 (1,195 days after the deadline). Vulcan's first flight (Cert-1).
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force participates in certification milestone of future launch capability (Jan 8, 2024)
Vulcan first launch in 2021
ULA (release), Aug 12, 2019. Deadline as stated: 2021 (read as Dec 31, 2021).
"scheduled for late next year for processing in preparation for its first launch in 2021"
Said in: ULA, Vulcan Centaur rocket on schedule for first flight in 2021 (Aug 12, 2019)
Met late, Jan 8, 2024 (738 days after the deadline). Vulcan's first flight (Cert-1).
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force participates in certification milestone of future launch capability (Jan 8, 2024)
Vulcan first launch later in 2021 (reaffirmed)
ULA (release), Feb 2, 2021. Deadline as stated: later this year (2021) (read as Dec 31, 2021).
"Vulcan Centaur is on track for a first launch later this year."
Said in: ULA, ULA modifies launch pad and facilities in advance of first Vulcan Centaur launch this year (Feb 2, 2021)
Met late, Jan 8, 2024 (738 days after the deadline). Vulcan's first flight (Cert-1). The release is datelined February 2, 2021; its web address carries February 9.
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force participates in certification milestone of future launch capability (Jan 8, 2024)
First Phase 2 missions: USSF-51 in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and USSF-106 in the fourth (ULA)
US Space Force (award release), Aug 7, 2020. Deadline as stated: fourth quarter fiscal year 2022 (USSF-106) (read as Sep 30, 2022).
"ULA has been assigned USSF-51 and USSF-106 scheduled for launch in second quarter fiscal year 2022 and fourth quarter fiscal year 2022, respectively."
Said in: Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Space Force awards National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service contracts (Aug 7, 2020)
Met late, Aug 12, 2025 (1,047 days after the deadline). USSF-106 flew on Vulcan on August 12, 2025 (Pacific time). USSF-51 flew on an Atlas V on July 30, 2024 (ULA mission page).
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance successfully launch USSF-106 mission aboard Vulcan rocket (Aug 13, 2025)
Vulcan first flight in the first quarter of 2023
ULA (release), Oct 12, 2022. Deadline as stated: 1st quarter 2023 (read as Mar 31, 2023).
"ULA is proceeding to a first flight of Vulcan 1st quarter 2023"
Said in: ULA, ULA sets path forward for inaugural Vulcan flight test (Oct 12, 2022)
Met late, Jan 8, 2024 (283 days after the deadline). Vulcan's first flight (Cert-1).
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force participates in certification milestone of future launch capability (Jan 8, 2024)
Vulcan certified for national security missions before its first NSSL mission in the fourth quarter of 2023
Mark Peller, ULA vice president, Major Development (release), Oct 12, 2022. Deadline as stated: 4th quarter 2023 (read as Dec 31, 2023).
"stay on schedule to achieve U.S. Space Force certification of Vulcan in advance of our first national security space mission in 4th quarter 2023"
Said in: ULA, ULA sets path forward for inaugural Vulcan flight test (Oct 12, 2022)
Met late, Mar 26, 2025 (451 days after the deadline). The Space Force announced Vulcan's certification on March 26, 2025 (its written testimony gives March 25). The first national security Vulcan mission, USSF-106, flew on August 12, 2025.
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force certifies United Launch Alliance Vulcan for National Security Space Launch missions (Mar 26, 2025)
Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts awarded in fall 2024
Space Systems Command (Lane 1 award release), Jun 13, 2024. Deadline as stated: later this fall (read as Dec 31, 2024).
"The Government intends to award up to three contracts for the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 Launch Service Procurement later this fall."
Said in: Space Systems Command, SSC Awards Three Contracts for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Jun 13, 2024)
Met late, Apr 4, 2025 (94 days after the deadline). Lane 2 was awarded to SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin.
Outcome source: US Department of Defense, Contracts for April 4, 2025 (Apr 4, 2025)
First Lane 1 on-ramp in the first quarter of fiscal 2025
Space Systems Command (Lane 1 award release), Jun 13, 2024. Deadline as stated: first quarter of fiscal year 2025 (read as Dec 31, 2024).
"The next opportunity for providers to on-ramp their emerging systems to the Lane 1 IDIQ contract will occur in the first quarter of fiscal year 25"
Said in: Space Systems Command, SSC Awards Three Contracts for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Jun 13, 2024)
Met late, Mar 27, 2025 (86 days after the deadline). Rocket Lab and Stoke Space were on-ramped.
Outcome source: US Department of Defense, Contracts for March 27, 2025 (Mar 27, 2025)
New Glenn's second certification flight (NG-2) in late spring 2025
Blue Origin (release), Apr 4, 2025. Deadline as stated: late spring (2025) (read as Jun 30, 2025).
"January's NG-1 launch was our first NSSL certification flight, and we expect to fly NG-2 in late spring."
Said in: Blue Origin, New Glenn Awarded Critical National Security Space Launch Contract (Apr 4, 2025)
Met late, Nov 13, 2025 (136 days after the deadline). NG-2 flew on November 13, 2025; Space Systems Command said New Glenn's certification "continues". We found no certification announcement as of September 27, 2026.
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, Space Systems Command continues New Glenn's certification process for National Security Space Launch (Nov 13, 2025)
First national security Vulcan mission, USSF-106, in July 2025
Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (written House testimony), May 14, 2025. Deadline as stated: July 2025 (read as Jul 31, 2025).
"The first NSSL Vulcan mission is USSF-106 with an ILC date in July 2025."
Said in: House Armed Services Committee (written testimony of Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy), Statement of Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy, FY26 Space Budget Hearing, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces (May 14, 2025)
Met late, Aug 12, 2025 (12 days after the deadline). USSF-106 launched on Vulcan.
Outcome source: Space Systems Command, Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance successfully launch USSF-106 mission aboard Vulcan rocket (Aug 13, 2025)
Second Lane 1 on-ramp in the first quarter of fiscal 2026
Space Systems Command (on-ramp release), Mar 27, 2025. Deadline as stated: first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (read as Dec 31, 2025).
"The next opportunity for providers to on-ramp their emerging systems to the Lane 1 IDIQ contract will occur in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026."
Said in: Space Systems Command, SSC on-ramps two new providers to NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 (Mar 27, 2025)
Met late, Jul 7, 2026 (188 days after the deadline). Impulse Space and Relativity Federal were on-ramped.
Outcome source: US Department of War, Contracts for July 7, 2026 (Jul 7, 2026)
Second Lane 1 on-ramp award in spring 2026 (revised)
Space Systems Command Public Affairs (article), Sep 4, 2025. Deadline as stated: Spring 2026 (read as Jun 30, 2026).
"The second annual Lane 1 on-ramp award is expected in Spring 2026."
Said in: Space Systems Command Public Affairs, SSC hosts Industry Day in preparation for National Security Space Launch (Sep 4, 2025)
Met late, Jul 7, 2026 (7 days after the deadline). Awarded to Impulse Space and Relativity Federal.
Outcome source: US Department of War, Contracts for July 7, 2026 (Jul 7, 2026)
| UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC |
| NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES |
| May 30, 2025 |
| $222.7 million |
| FA881125FB017 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES | May 30, 2025 | $205.3 million |
| FA881126FB006 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | PHASE 3 LANE 1 LAUNCH SERVICE TASK ORDER (LSTO) FOR NTO-5 | Jan 9, 2026 | $204.6 million |
| FA881124FB023 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES | Jul 25, 2024 | $183.4 million |
| FA881126FB004 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH SERVICES PHASE 3, LANE 2 | Jan 13, 2026 | $173.7 million |
| FA881124FB028 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SPACE SECURITY LAUNCH PHASE 2 | Jul 25, 2024 | $170.7 million |
| FA881126FB011 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES PROCUREMENT | May 4, 2026 | $170.3 million |
| FA881122F0024 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES | Jul 22, 2022 | $160.7 million |
| FA881126FB001 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | PHASE 3 LANE 1 LAUNCH SERVICE TASK ORDER (LSTO) FOR SDA-2 | Dec 8, 2025 | $160.3 million |
| FA881123F0030 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH SERVICES | Jul 24, 2023 | $159.5 million |
| FA881123F0018 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH SERVICE PHASE 2 | Jun 20, 2023 | $158.9 million |
| FA881122F0027 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | Jul 21, 2022 | $158.3 million |
| FA881121F0025 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | Aug 16, 2021 | $157.2 million |
| FA881123F0033 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | Jul 24, 2023 | $156.7 million |
| FA881125FB002 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 3 LANE 1 | Oct 18, 2024 | $155.2 million |
| FA881125FB022 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES PROCUREMENT | Jul 8, 2025 | $153.7 million |
| FA881125FB016 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES | May 15, 2025 | $153.7 million |
| FA881121F0018 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES | Aug 17, 2021 | $151.8 million |
| FA881125FB015 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH (NSSL) PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES PROCUREMENT | Apr 24, 2025 | $150.1 million |
| FA881126FB005 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | FA8811-25-D-B002 NSSL PHASE 3 LANE 2 LAUNCH SERVICES FOR USSF-206 | Apr 1, 2026 | $142.2 million |
| FA881124FB029 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | Jul 25, 2024 | $136.6 million |
| FA881122F0014 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | May 25, 2022 | $133.3 million |
| FA881122F0009 | UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC | NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PHASE 2 | May 25, 2022 | $133.2 million |
| FA881126FB016 | BLUE ORIGIN, LLC | PHASE 3 LANE 1 LAUNCH SERVICE TASK ORDER (LSTO) FOR NTO-4 | May 28, 2026 | $125.2 million |