Article

The U.S. Air Force will choose two companies from four candidates for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to ensure five years of launch services. The program aims to improve affordability by utilizing commercial capabilities.

However, the commercial launch market faces challenges, with expected launches dropping from 20-25 to 10-15 per year, driven by increased competition and reduced profit margins. A RAND report commissioned by the Air Force supports the decision to limit contracts to two providers, indicating the market cannot sustain more. The contracts, expected to be awarded in summer 2026, will cover over 30 heavy lift launches from 2022 to 2026.