Miles Jamison
SpaceX has secured a contract modification from NASA to integrate its Starship launch system into the NASA Launch Services II program.
The Texas-headquartered company said the modification, under the NLS II contract, expands its launch service offerings beyond the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.
NLS II Contracts to Aid NASA Space Missions
The multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity NLS II contracts are designed to bolster NASA’s pool of commercial launch service providers, intended for the agency’s planetary, Earth-observing, exploration and scientific satellites. These critical missions, with low to medium risk tolerance, are subject to NASA technical oversight and mission assurance to ensure launch success.
The contracts come with an ordering period starting in June 2023 and are expected to be completed by December 2032. They include an annual on-ramp provision, enabling the addition of new launch service providers. Contracted companies can also introduce additional launch services through the program. Furthermore, the contracts allow the agency to offer launch services to other federal government agencies.
The NLS II contracts align with the goals of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Space Operations Mission Directorate, Explorations Systems Development Mission Directorate and the Space Technology Mission Directorate. Under the contracts, NASA also can provide launch services to other federal government agencies.
