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1 [1] (January 14, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetmd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con re &on I flesedrch Service horujig Aecjiiave le a~m 'e1914 0 Updated January 14, 2026 Defense Primer: National Security Space Launch Program The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program acquires commercial launch services to deploy military and intelligence community satellites. These satellites are used for communications; positioning, navigation, and timing; missile warning and tracking; and space situational awareness, among other purposes. Congress, in 10 U.S.C. §2273, established as U.S. policy the need to ensure access to space by maintaining at least two launch vehicles able to deliver any national security payload into space. To meet that mandate, Congress authorizes and appropriates funding for NSSL and provides oversight of the program. The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4), provided $1.87 billion for NSSL, according to DOD (which is using a secondary Department of War designation under Executive Order 14347). In the FY2025 reconciliation act (P.L. 119-21, §20003), Congress provided $500 million for NSSL infrastructure, to remain available through FY2029. DOD has requested $1.47 billion for NSSL in FY2026. Nationa Security Space Launch Programn The U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC), based at Los Angeles Air Force Base, manages the NSSL program. DOD conducts NSSL launches at two locations: the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. NSSL has launched satellites for the U.S. Space Force, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and the National Reconnaissance Office. NSSL providers use launch vehicles capable of either heavy-lift or medium-lift, generally defined as a payload capacity between 20,000 kg and 50,000 kg or between 2,000 kg and 20,000 kg, respectively. DOD acquires small-lift launch services, defined as a payload capacity of 2,000 kg or less, through the Rocket Systems Launch Program. SSC directs a flight-worthiness certification process for potential NSSL launch providers. The certification process includes flight demonstrations, major subsystem reviews, and verification of payload interface requirements. The United States has two certified launch providers for NSSL missions: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), flying its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, and the United Launch Alliance (ULA), flying its Vulcan rocket. Blue Origin is in the process of certifying a new launch vehicle, the New Glenn rocket. As outlined in 10 U.S.C. §2273, one of the goals of NSSL is to lower the costs of national security space launches. For acquisitions, NSSL has opened competition between providers to reduce costs through competitively awarded contracts. The program also uses firm-fixed price contracts and block buys, a DOD-specific procurement mechanism that allows the agency to use a single contract to buy goods or services over multiple years, rather than annual contracts. NatIona Security Space Launch Evolution NSSL evolved from an earlier Air Force program, the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. In August 1994, the Clinton Administration issued the National Space Transportation Policy (NSTC-4), which tasked DOD with the improvement and evolution of the current U.S. [heavy- and medium-lift] expendable launch vehicle (ELV) fleet. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA; P.L. 108-136, §2273) codified this policy in statute (10 U.S.C. §2273). In fulfillment of NSTC-4, the Air Force established the EELV program in 1994. During the initial phase of the EELV program, the Air Force used nonrecurring, firm- fixed price contracts, with the commercial providers covering any additional costs. The Air Force amended its contracting approach in 2005, citing rising costs incurred by the commercial partners. The Air Force began instituting cost-plus contracts to support launch capabilities and infrastructure, while still issuing firm-fixed price contracts for launch services. In 2006, Boeing and Lockheed Martin formed the ULA joint venture, which became the sole provider for EELV launch services in 2006. In 2013, the Air Force shifted to a block buy approach, saying this would save money and provide predictability for industry. The subsequent sole-source contracts awarded to ULA were considered Phase 1 of the amended EELV program. After Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, Congress prohibited contracting with Russian suppliers of rocket engines for EELV and directed that DOD create a development program for new U.S.-made rocket engines (P.L. 113-291, §§1604, 1608). This program later formed the basis of future ULA and Blue Origin launch vehicles. In 2016, the Air Force shifted to competitively awarded EELV contracts, known as Phase 1A. Under Phase 1A, SpaceX won a firm-fixed price launch services contract in April 2016 for the use of expendable Falcon 9 rockets. In 2018, DOD issued three Launch Service Agreements (LSAs), which were other transaction (OT) agreements to facilitate development of ... launch system prototypes, to foster future competition. The Air Force awarded these agreements to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and ULA in preparation for Phase 2. The FY2019 NDAA (P.L. 115- 232) changed the program's name to NSSL and expanded the program to include reusable launch vehicles, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5. DOD continued to use competitively awarded block-buy contracts in Phase 2, which began in 2020. Out of 48 Phase