Every year, the US Space Force picks companies to launch its most important satellites. This year, SpaceX took the majority of the contracts, winning five out of seven. United Launch Alliance, or ULA, grabbed the other two. These missions are still a few years away from actually flying, but the contracts reveal some interesting trends.

SpaceX and ULA are the only companies with rockets certified for Pentagon missions. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy have proven records, while ULA’s Vulcan rocket is newer. Vulcan launched its first national security mission in August after debuting nearly two years ago. Blue Origin’s New Glenn is also in the running but needs one more successful flight to be certified for military launches.

Col. Eric Zarybnisky pointed out that space is vital for national security. The recent mission assignments continue to ensure access to space for the US. It’s no surprise that SpaceX was awarded most of the contracts, as they announced earlier this year they’d get the bulk of upcoming launches. ULA was the second choice, and Blue Origin remains a backup option.

But digging into the numbers, some interesting facts emerge. The Space Force is paying SpaceX $714 million for five launches, averaging about $143 million per mission. ULA will get $428 million for two launches, or roughly $214 million each. That means SpaceX’s prices are about half of ULA’s per mission, which is a big difference.

Part of the reason for the price gap might be that SpaceX reuses its Falcon boosters. ULA’s Vulcan rocket is designed to be single-use for each launch, which can drive up costs. Interestingly, ULA’s prices for Space Force missions have gone up a lot over the past few years. In late 2023, ULA got a $1.3 billion deal for 11 launches, averaging about $119 million each. A few months earlier, six launches cost $672 million, or about $112 million per mission.

Meanwhile, SpaceX’s average launch cost has stayed fairly steady, but the total contract money has increased. Over mid-2024, SpaceX received $661 million for a set of launches, which included upgrades to ground systems and development of a longer payload fairing for the Falcon Heavy.

It’s important to remember that these prices are higher than what ULA and SpaceX would charge commercial customers. The government pays a premium for launch access. They don’t insure their missions like commercial clients do and require additional security and inspection processes. Plus, government launches usually get priority, adding to costs.

Most of the recent launches for SpaceX will use the Falcon Heavy, which can carry larger payloads with three booster cores. Only one will go on a Falcon 9. ULA’s Vulcan, on the other hand, uses a single core with various solid rocket boosters to boost power.

Here’s a quick look at the seven new missions: a classified payload on Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, a GPS satellite on Vulcan, and other classified and government payloads, all launched from Florida. These missions show that the Space Force is increasingly relying on heavier launch vehicles like Falcon Heavy and Vulcan to handle larger, more complex payloads.

In the end, these contracts highlight how expensive space launches are becoming, especially for government missions. While SpaceX offers more competitive prices, the costs for ULA’s Vulcan are climbing. As the US pushes for more assured access to space, these numbers hint at ongoing shifts in how the military pays for its space capabilities.

Inspired by

• https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/pentagon-contract-figures-show-ulas-vulcan-rocket-is-getting-more-expensive/

Sources

• conde.digital
• cnevids.com
• spacenews.com