Space Systems Command (SSC) has released the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 On-Ramp Request for Proposals (RFP). This is the first on-ramp opportunity following the initial NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract awards in June 2024 to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA. Proposals are due by Dec. 13, 2024, with an award expected in Spring 2025.
The annual Lane 1 on-ramp opportunity encourages continuous development of a healthy and reliable domestic industrial base to provide commercial-like launch services for the NSSL program.
“Our NSSL Phase 3 strategy is designed to leverage the innovative commercial launch market to diversify our launch solutions with new systems able to launch more risk-tolerant space vehicles to traditionally commercial orbits,” said Col. Douglas Pentecost, SSC’s Assured Access to Space deputy program executive officer. “Emerging launch service providers are able to on-ramp each year to the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract when their launch systems are ready giving us more diversity and competition.”
For this on-ramp opportunity, prospective launch providers must have a credible plan for a first launch by December 2025.
“We recently hosted an Industry Day to inform launch providers about this upcoming on-ramp opportunity,” noted Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, SSC’s materiel leader for Space Launch Procurement. “We were thrilled to see the continued enthusiasm from industry and look forward to increase our launch diversity and competition because we have multiple launch service procurements programmed across the next several years.”
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