National Security Space Launch

The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed by the United States Space Force under the Department of the Air Force. Its primary objective is to procure launch services that provide critical space support for Department of Defense (DoD) warfighter, national security, and other United States Government (USG) space lift missions. The NSSL program is designed to leverage inter-agency and commercial cooperation, maximizing the use of certified launch vehicle providers to deliver satellites and payloads to specific orbits as required by national security and government agencies.

The NSSL program's goals include ensuring reliable and timely access to space for national security payloads, supporting the Government National Launch Forecast (NLF) requirements, and maintaining a robust and competitive U.S. launch industrial base. The program does not procure or take ownership of launch hardware; instead, it acquires launch services from certified providers under firm fixed-price contracts. The NSSL also supports the evaluation and certification of new entrants, expanding the pool of potential launch service providers and fostering innovation within the commercial sector.

Beginning in FY 2025, the NSSL program transitions to Phase 3 contracts, which introduce a dual-lane procurement approach. Lane 1 is designed for risk-tolerant missions and will procure launch services from a diverse set of providers, with annual opportunities for new entrants to compete. This lane targets missions that can be launched to commercially addressable orbits and incorporates tiered mission assurance based on each mission's risk profile. Lane 2 focuses on the nation's most critical payloads, requiring launch services from fully certified systems and providing enhanced mission assurance, infrastructure, and security tailored to National Security Space (NSS) requirements.

The NSSL program also includes funding for Launch Service Support (LSS), which covers non-discrete costs such as fleet surveillance, government mission assurance, NSS-unique infrastructure, and complex security and integration requirements. LSS is funded annually for Lane 2 missions to address items not typically provided by the commercial launch sector. The Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) share the costs for LSS, with established agreements specifying the cost-sharing ratios for mission assurance and support activities.

Additional objectives of the NSSL program involve enterprise systems engineering and integration, independent mission assurance, and early integration activities to ensure compatibility between launch systems and intended payloads. The program office conducts technical analysis, studies, and leverages partnerships with other USG agencies and commercial entities to rapidly respond to emerging threats and maintain system resiliency in a contested space environment. These activities help the NSSL program adapt to evolving adversarial threats and maintain the U.S. advantage in space operations.

For FY 2026, the NSSL budget request includes discretionary funding and additional mandatory funds for early integration studies supporting Missile Defense Space Vehicles. The program's cost structure reflects recurring expenses for launch services, mission assurance, systems engineering, and advisory and assistance services, with reductions implemented to promote efficiency in line with government-wide initiatives. The NSSL program's procurement quantities and funding levels are determined by known mission requirements and are subject to adjustment as new needs are identified.