Atlas V rocket lifting off with NRO payload from Vandenberg, AFB on March 1. Photo: 30th Space Wing

The Air Force awarded United Launch Alliance (ULA), Northrop Grumman, and Blue Origin each multi-hundred million dollar contracts on Wednesday to develop a launch system prototype by 2021 for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

Blue Origin will develop its New Glenn launch system with an initial launch capability by 2020, according to an Air Force statement. Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems  formerly Orbital ATK — will build the OmegA launch system, and ULA is slated to build its Vulcan Centaur launch system, both with initial launch capability by 2021.