Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Selected for National Security Space Mission Contracts

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Selected by Department of Defense for National Security Space Missions

In a groundbreaking move, the Department of Defense has chosen Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to compete for national security space mission contracts over the next five years. This marks the first time that Bezos’ company has been selected for such a prestigious opportunity, alongside Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA).

The selection of these three companies comes as part of the third phase of the National Security Space Launch program, with Space Force aiming to increase competition and diversity in the field of rocket manufacturing. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen of Space Force stated that the small pool of awardees this year is due to many companies still developing their launch capabilities, but on-ramp opportunities will be available annually for new providers and systems.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has already secured 22 space missions from the Pentagon worth $2.5 billion since 2020, while ULA has won contracts for 26 missions worth $3.1 billion. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched two satellites for military communications in January 2023, showcasing the company’s capabilities in the space industry.

SpaceX has recently been in the spotlight for its successful launch of the Starship spacecraft, a fully reusable megarocket designed for missions to the Moon and Mars. However, the company and Musk have also faced controversy, with a group of engineers suing them for alleged illegal firing after raising concerns about sexism and harassment in the workplace.

The decision to entrust Musk’s and Bezos’ companies with national security space missions reflects a growing trend of the Pentagon outsourcing security to major tech firms. With contracts worth billions being awarded to tech giants in recent years, the partnership between the defense sector and Big Tech is becoming increasingly prominent in the realm of national security.