NASA awards SpaceX a contract modification to include the Starship vehicle in its NLS II services, expanding future space missions through advanced launch technology.
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| NASA has expanded its NLS II contract with SpaceX, including Starship for future missions. This move enhances NASA's capabilities in space exploration and technology. Image: NASA |
Washington, D.C., USA — March 29, 2025:
NASA has awarded SpaceX a significant contract modification, adding the Starship vehicle to its existing NASA Launch Services (NLS) II agreement. This expansion allows SpaceX to offer Starship alongside its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets for future NASA missions, including planetary exploration, Earth observation, and scientific satellite launches, said a press release.
The NLS II contracts, designed to provide a broad range of commercial launch services, offer critical mission assurance and technical oversight to ensure the highest likelihood of success for NASA’s missions. These contracts, which include both low and medium-risk missions, will extend through December 2032, with an ordering period running until June 2030.
In addition to providing launch services for NASA, the NLS II contracts allow other federal agencies to leverage these capabilities, offering a versatile and reliable launch framework for a variety of space endeavors. Furthermore, the contract includes an annual on-ramp provision, opening doors for new providers to join the program and compete for future missions.
The expansion to include Starship is a key development for NASA’s mission goals, enabling new opportunities in space exploration, science, and technology. Managed by NASA's Launch Services Program Office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the NLS II contracts are integral to supporting the agency’s various mission directorates, including the Science Mission Directorate and the Space Technology Mission Directorate.
This modification solidifies SpaceX’s role as a key partner in advancing space technology and deepening NASA’s capabilities, propelling both agencies forward in their shared mission to explore and discover the unknown.