Rendering of the Neutron rocket deploying a constellation into orbit. Photo: Rocket Lab

Space Systems Command (SSC) on Thursday announced a potential $5.6 billion multiple award contract for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL), with Rocket Lab and Stoke Space Technologies being added to the nation’s portfolio of launch providers for assured access to space.

The NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 on-ramp in fiscal year 2025 is the first time Rocket Lab and Stoke Space have been included in the program.

The companies will provide launch services for national security payloads into their intended orbits. The firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract covers four years and two months, taking it through June 2029, and includes an additional five-year ordering period.

SSC said that both companies are receiving a $5 million task order to conduct an initial capabilities assessment “and develop their approach to tailored mission assurance” which is “a tiered approach to the government’s breadth and depth of the launch vehicle baseline understanding and the associated risks to the mission.”

Rocket Lab, based in California, is providing its 13-ton Neutron reusable medium-lift launch vehicle that is designed to deploy payloads up to 13,000 kilograms. The first launch of Neutron is slated for the second half of 2025 after a recent schedule slip.

Stoke, based in Washington, will supply its 100 percent reusable Nova rocket. The company says on its website that the Nova fairing can lift 3,000 kilograms to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) in reusable mode and up to 7,000 kilograms otherwise. The rocket is also designed to carry 2,500 kilograms to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

“Once Rocket Lab and Stoke Space complete their first successful launch, they will be eligible to compete for launch services and task orders on Lane 1,” Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, SSC’s material leader for space launch procurement, said in a statement Thursday evening. “We will release Requests for Proposals for additional Lane 1 launch services later this spring, and we also have several more missions we will compete in FY ’26.”

SSC previously said that Phase 3 Lane 1 includes the opportunity for annual on-ramping of emerging launch providers and systems as they become available. On Thursday the command said providers will get another chance to on-ramp to Lane 1 in the first quarter of FY ’26.

Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance were on-ramped to Lane 1 in 2024.

This story was first published by Defense Daily