Latest news with #Lane1
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Space Force awards national security contracts to Rocket Lab, Stoke Space
(Reuters) - The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command said on Thursday it had awarded contracts to Rocket Lab USA and Stoke Space to expand its portfolio of launch systems for critical space capability. Shares of Rocket Lab USA rose 9.7% in extended trading after the announcement. The contract enables the company to compete for future U.S. national security launch missions. Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will each receive a $5 million order to conduct initial capability assessment. They will join companies including Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance in the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which is meant to bolster the United States' space launch capabilities by adding a broader range of service providers. "Once Rocket Lab and Stoke Space complete their first successful launch, they will be eligible to compete for launch service task orders on Lane 1," said Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, SSC's materiel leader for Space Launch Procurement.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Space Force adds Rocket Lab, Stoke Space to launch vendor pool
The Space Force has added two new launch providers to its list of firms that could compete for future national security space missions. In a statement Thursday, the service said Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will join three other firms — SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin — chosen last year to enter the provider pool. The companies, both of which are developing new rockets for military and commercial customers, must fly their vehicles in order to be eligible to compete for contracts. Both firms expect their rockets to take flight this year. 'With today's award, the Space Force expanded our portfolio of launch systems able to deliver critical space capability. These new partners bring innovative approaches and increased competition to our mission area,' Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, program executive officer for assured access to space, said in the statement. The addition of new vendors is part of the Space Force's new strategy for space launch, which it calls National Security Space Launch Phase 3. Under that approach, the Space Force created two lanes in which companies can compete. Lane 1 is for commercial-like missions and is geared toward new providers, and Lane 2 is reserved for firms whose rockets meet more stringent security and performance requirements. The providers selected to date have all been for Lane 1, but SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin will likely also be chosen to compete for Lane 2 missions. The service expects to release its first request for proposals for Lane 1 launches later this spring and companies will have a chance to compete for additional missions in fiscal 2026. Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, Space Systems Command's materiel leader space launch procurement, said the service plans to bring on more emerging launch providers in the coming years. Along with their on-ramp to Lane 1, Rocket Lab and Stoke each received a $5 million contract to develop an approach to mission assurance, a term the Space Force uses to describe efforts to lower the risk that a Defense Department space mission will fail.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Space Force awards national security contracts to Rocket Lab, Stoke Space
(Reuters) - The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command said on Thursday it had awarded contracts to Rocket Lab USA and Stoke Space to expand its portfolio of launch systems for critical space capability. Shares of Rocket Lab USA rose 9.7% in extended trading after the announcement. The contract enables the company to compete for future U.S. national security launch missions. Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will each receive a $5 million order to conduct initial capability assessment. They will join companies including Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance in the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which is meant to bolster the United States' space launch capabilities by adding a broader range of service providers. "Once Rocket Lab and Stoke Space complete their first successful launch, they will be eligible to compete for launch service task orders on Lane 1," said Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, SSC's materiel leader for Space Launch Procurement.
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
U.S. Space Force awards national security contracts to Rocket Lab, Stoke Space
March 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command said on Thursday it had awarded contracts to Rocket Lab USA (RKLB.O), opens new tab and Stoke Space to expand its portfolio of launch systems for critical space capability. Shares of Rocket Lab USA rose 9.7% in extended trading after the announcement. The contract enables the company to compete for future U.S. national security launch missions. Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will each receive a $5 million order to conduct initial capability assessment. They will join companies including Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance in the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which is meant to bolster the United States' space launch capabilities by adding a broader range of service providers. "Once Rocket Lab and Stoke Space complete their first successful launch, they will be eligible to compete for launch service task orders on Lane 1," said Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, SSC's materiel leader for Space Launch Procurement.
