Rocket Lab USA Inc. said on Monday it had been awarded a U.S. Space Force contract potentially worth up to $981 million, securing long-term launch opportunities for national security missions through 2030.
The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, awarded under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, allows for multiple missions with options exercisable through 2030. Rocket Lab will compete alongside other providers for task orders, supporting the Space Force’s requirement for responsive and reliable access to space.
The company’s Electron rocket, designed for small satellite launches, has been selected for at least one mission under the contract, with additional task orders expected to follow. Rocket Lab’s CEO Peter Beck described the agreement as a significant validation of the company’s launch capabilities and a key step in expanding its role in national security space operations.
Shares of Rocket Lab rose 3.2% in premarket trading on Monday, reflecting investor interest in the company’s growing defense sector exposure. The contract follows a series of recent milestones, including the successful launch of NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System in April and the company’s first successful mid-air helicopter capture of an Electron booster in 2022.
The Space Force contract underscores the Pentagon’s reliance on commercial launch providers to meet evolving national security needs. Rocket Lab joins a select group of companies, including SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, supporting critical space missions under the NSSL program.
