Space Force Adds Impulse Space and Relativity Federal to $5.6B NSSL Lane 1
The U.S. Space Force added Impulse Space and Relativity Federal to its $5.6 billion NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launch programme on July 7, opening the door to at least 30 competitive small-launch missions.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Space Force added Impulse Space and Relativity Federal to the $5.6 billion NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract on July 7, 2026, with $10 million in FY2026 funding obligated at award.
Lane 1 covers at least 30 competitive base-period missions for tactical and experimental payloads; the new entrants join Rocket Lab, Firefly and Northrop Grumman, while Lane 2 remains with ULA, SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Impulse Space, founded by ex-SpaceX propulsion lead Tom Mueller, will bid missions built around its Mira and Helios orbital transfer vehicles spanning LEO, MEO and GEO.
Relativity Federal brings Relativity Space's Terran R rocket, a medium-lift vehicle offering 23.5 tonnes to LEO in reusable configuration, to the DoD launch queue.
Three offers were received in the current on-ramp, and the award adds to a busy July 2026 for defence-and-space contracting alongside AeroVironment and Airbus wins.
Kaan Tınmaz
The U.S. Space Force has expanded its $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract, adding Impulse Space and Relativity Federal on July 7, 2026. The move brings two more launch providers into the competitive pool for at least 30 base-period missions carrying tactical and experimental payloads.
Lane 1 keeps competition open for small-launch
Lane 1 is the more permissive of NSSL Phase 3's two tracks, allowing new entrants to compete for individual task orders rather than requiring the full risk-tolerance profile of Lane 2 (which currently sits with ULA, SpaceX and Blue Origin). Three offers came in during the current on-ramp, and $10 million in fiscal 2026 funding was obligated at the moment of award. Impulse and Relativity Federal join an existing set of providers including Rocket Lab, Firefly and Northrop Grumman.
Impulse leans on its orbital transfer stack
Impulse Space, founded by former SpaceX propulsion lead Tom Mueller, has built a franchise around orbital transfer vehicles — Mira and Helios — that can move payloads across LEO, MEO and GEO after a primary launch. Being on Lane 1 lets Impulse bid missions where the transfer stage is the whole point, rather than an add-on to a Falcon 9 rideshare.
Relativity brings Terran R to the DoD queue
Relativity Federal is the government-services arm of Relativity Space, which is now flying its Terran R rocket after retiring the printed Terran 1 in 2023. Terran R offers a medium-lift class with 23.5 tonnes to LEO in reusable configuration, well-suited to responsive tactical launch. The company also announced a manufacturing expansion in Long Beach earlier this spring.
Congestion in the responsive-launch market
The award follows AeroVironment's July counter-drone deal and Airbus's Aeolus-2 win, keeping July 2026 on pace for one of the busiest defence-and-space contracting months of the year. The Space Force says at least 30 individual Lane 1 missions are expected during the base ordering period, meaning both Impulse and Relativity have a real, near-term path from eligibility to revenue.
Reporting based on coverage from Defence-Blog, SpaceNews and DefenseScoop.
Lane 1 is the more permissive of NSSL Phase 3's two tracks, letting new entrants compete for individual task orders without meeting the full risk-tolerance profile of Lane 2. It covers at least 30 missions carrying tactical and experimental payloads during the base ordering period.
Which companies are now part of Lane 1?
Impulse Space and Relativity Federal joined on July 7, 2026, adding to an existing provider pool that includes Rocket Lab, Firefly and Northrop Grumman. Lane 2 currently sits with ULA, SpaceX and Blue Origin.
What does Impulse Space bring to the programme?
Impulse Space, founded by former SpaceX propulsion lead Tom Mueller, offers its Mira and Helios orbital transfer vehicles, which can move payloads across LEO, MEO and GEO. Lane 1 lets it bid missions where the transfer stage is the primary capability.
What rocket will Relativity Federal use for national security launches?
Relativity Federal, the government-services arm of Relativity Space, will offer Terran R, a medium-lift rocket delivering 23.5 tonnes to LEO in reusable configuration and suited to responsive tactical launch.
