Archive · 30 Jul 2026
SpaceX Wins $1.6 B Contract for 18 Falcon 9 Launches
SpaceX, a private rocket company, got a big deal from the US military to launch 18 rockets that will put satellites into space.
These satellites will help the military spot and track planes and other flying objects from far away.
The launches will happen from a base in California and should finish by the end of 2027.
The deal was signed very quickly, in just two months, which the military says is a new record.
Some lawmakers worry that the military is relying too much on one company, so they want more companies to compete for these jobs.
SpaceX secured a $1.6 billion contract to launch 18 Falcon 9 rockets for the US Space Force, deploying satellites that will detect airborne threats from space.
The 18 missions, split into two task orders under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base and are slated to finish by end‑2027.
The satellites will support the Space Force’s Space‑Based Sensing and Targeting program, providing near‑real‑time tracking of airborne threats.
The deal was awarded in a record two‑month acquisition timeline, a speedup the Space Force says is critical for national security.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns that the Pentagon’s reliance on a single contractor could create vulnerability, prompting calls for more competition.
- Who
- SpaceX, US Space Force, lawmakers
- What
- SpaceX awarded a $1.6 billion contract to launch 18 Falcon 9 rockets for the Space Force’s airborne threat‑tracking satellites
- When
- announced in July 2024
- Where
- Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
- Why
- to provide near real‑time detection of airborne threats and accelerate national‑security launch timelines
- Contract Value
- $1.6 billion
- Number of Launches
- 18
- Launch Vehicle
- Falcon 9
- Launch Site
- Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Program
- National Security Space Launch Phase 3
- Completion Target
- end of 2027
- Satellite Purpose
- Space‑Based Sensing and Targeting