National Security Space Launch
Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)
Program facts
- Program number
- 176
- Short name
- NSSL
- Acquisition pathway
- Major Capability Acquisition (MCA)
- Acquisition category
- ACAT IC
- Acquisition status
- Active
- Lead component
-
Air Force Space Command
Air Force, Department of Defense
- Contract awards
- 81
- Contract obligations
- $24,228,302,998 Since fiscal year 2004
Program details come from the Department of Defense's acquisition program list. Contract figures come from SAM.gov (formerly FPDS).
Contract obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $117,993,919 |
| FY2025 | $300,731,314 |
| FY2024 | $296,839,690 |
| FY2023 | $368,658,915 |
| FY2022 | $478,920,083 |
| FY2021 | $400,110,590 |
| FY2020 | $578,227,436 |
| FY2019 | $1,276,084,914 |
| FY2018 | $1,553,999,439 |
| FY2017 | $2,094,715,755 |
Top contractors by obligations
| Rank | Contractor | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Launch Services, LLC | $18,995,073,784 | |
| 2 | Lockheed Martin Corp | $1,882,580,382 | |
| 3 | Boeing Launch Services, Inc. | $1,255,476,246 | |
| 4 | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. | $681,570,928 | |
| 5 | Mantech SRS Technologies, Inc. | $578,933,488 | |
| 6 | BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc. | $517,113,094 | |
| 7 | Axient LLC | $146,682,971 | |
| 8 | Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. | $128,267,561 | |
| 9 | Lockheed Martin Corp | $15,012,115 | |
| 10 | Joint Synergy Corp. | $5,077,850 |
10 of 47 contractors listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Contract awards
Show 40 more
Latest 50 of 81 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
About this program
The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program managed by the Department of Defense that provides space launch services for critical national security payloads. Operating under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway with an Acquisition Category of IC, the program ensures reliable access to space for Department of Defense and intelligence community satellites and spacecraft. The program represents a critical component of the nation's space infrastructure, facilitating the deployment of various military and intelligence assets into orbit.
Contract awards under NSSL range from small purchase orders of a few thousand dollars to major launch service contracts exceeding $1 billion, with typical performance periods spanning 2-5 years. Primary contractors include United Launch Services (a subsidiary of United Launch Alliance), Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), and ManTech SRS Technologies. Notable contract types include firm-fixed-price launch service delivery orders and cost-plus-fixed-fee systems engineering and integration support contracts. The Space and Missile Systems Center, now part of the U.S. Space Force, serves as the primary contracting authority. While most contracts have no set-aside designation, there are occasional small business and 8(a) awards for supporting services. Primary places of performance include Colorado (United Launch Services), California (SpaceX), and Virginia (ManTech). Major subcontractors frequently include Aerojet Rocketdyne for propulsion systems and various engineering services firms providing technical support.
Quick answers
What is NSSL?
National Security Space Launch (NSSL) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) led by the Air Force Space Command. It follows the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway and is ACAT IC. Its acquisition status is active.
How much has NSSL obligated on contracts?
81 contract awards are coded to NSSL, and their actions have obligated $24,228,302,998 since fiscal year 2004.
Who are the top contractors on NSSL?
The contractors obligated the most on NSSL contracts are United Launch Services, LLC ($18,995,073,784), Lockheed Martin Corp ($1,897,592,497 across 2 registrations) and Boeing Launch Services, Inc. ($1,255,476,246).
How much did NSSL obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Contracts coded to NSSL obligated $300,731,314 in fiscal year 2025.
What is the latest contract award for NSSL?
The latest contract award coded to NSSL is FA881125FB020, awarded to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. on June 27, 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every contract award coded to this program
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