Posted: Sun, Mar 30, 2025, 9:19 AM ET (1319 GMT)

The Space Force has added Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract. The Space Force announced Thursday that it included the two companies in NSSL Phase 3's Lane 1, which is the entry-level tier for missions to low Earth orbit. Each company gets a $5 million initial task order for a capabilities assessment and to establish their tailored mission assurance process. They will then be eligible to compete for launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions expected to be awarded. Rocket Lab's Neutron is scheduled for a first launch later this year, while Stoke Space's Nova medium-class rocket is in development.