The US Space Force has added Impulse Space and Relativity Space to its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 bidding pool, expanding the eligible contractors for military launch contracts. While Relativity Space's inclusion aligns with its development of the Terran R rocket, Impulse Space's entry is notable as it primarily specializes in in-space operations rather than traditional Earth-to-orbit launches.
Background
The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program is the US government's primary mechanism for procuring launch services for national security satellites, divided into lanes for established providers like SpaceX and ULA, and emerging competitors.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jul 9, 2026 at 09:08 PM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10