Space Systems Command (SSC) recently assigned 12 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) service missions under the NSSL Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract for Fiscal Year 2023.
Six missions were awarded to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) for the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TL)-B, SDA T1TL-C, SDA T1TL-D, SDA T1TL-E, SDA T1TR-C, and U.S. Space Force (USSF)-31.
Six other missions were awarded to United Launch Alliance (ULA) for the National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO)L-64 and NROL-83, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) III-08, SDA T1TR-B, SDA T1TR-D, and USSF-114.
NROL-64 and NROL-83 are missions conducted with SSC’s NRO partners. NROL-64 will be launched onboard ULA’s Vulcan rocket from the Eastern range. NROL-83 will launch using ULA’s Vulcan rocket from the Western range.
There are four SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer launches. SDA’s Transport Layer will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms. These are the second through fifth launches planned for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer. They will launch using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets from the Western range into polar orbit.
The USSF is also ordering three SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer launches. SDA’s Tracking Layer will provide global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems. They will launch using ULA’s Vulcan and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets from the Western range into polar orbit.
The GPS III-8 mission, assigned to launch onboard a ULA Vulcan rocket from the Eastern range into MEO, is the eighth of ten projected GPS III missions.
USSF-31 is a classified mission that will launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket from the Eastern range. USSF-114 is a classified mission that will launch using a ULA Vulcan rocket from the Western range.
“The Space Force’s formidable record of 97 consecutive successful NSSL launches to date is one of the most effective tools we can employ to face the pacing challenge. With this unwavering commitment to maintaining the high ground in the space domain, we send a powerful message to our strategic competitors that we are determined to protect our nation and allies. Our ongoing commitment to successfully launch our secure communications, GPS, and space awareness satellites, and place them into their orbits, continues to provide our warfighters and nation’s decision-makers with the assets and vital information they need every day to stay ahead of and deter adversarial forces.”
— Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, SSC’s program executive officer for Assured Access to Space
“We partner closely with our launch service providers and mission customers to deliver critical payloads to orbit precisely, on-time and without failure. ULA and SpaceX continue to provide outstanding launch services with their reliable and innovative launch systems, and we are confident in their ability to maintain the unprecedented 100 percent program success for the NSSL missions assigned for launch in FY25.”
— Col. Chad Melone, SSC’s chief of the Launch Procurement and Integration Division
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war fighting capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages a $15 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, and academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.