The US military seems to be getting nervous about the launch supply crunch

Key Points:

• The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital has recently committed $150 million loans each to Stoke Space and Rocket Lab to bolster competition in the commercial launch sector as SpaceX plans to retire its Falcon rocket program.
• SpaceX is phasing out Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches by 2028-2033 as it shifts focus to the Starship rocket, which currently prioritizes Starlink satellite deployments over national security payloads.
• The US military maintains a policy of assured access to space by supporting multiple launch providers, with Space Systems Command forecasting a need for up to 249 medium-to-heavy-lift launches through the early 2030s.
• Stoke Space’s loan will fund a second launch pad for its Nova Block 2 rocket at Cape Canaveral, while Rocket Lab’s loan will support increased production and flight rate of its Neutron rocket, including infrastructure for recovery and faster turnaround.
• Rocket Lab has raised its Neutron launch price from $55 million to $70 million due to strong demand, now holding a backlog of 117 launches, highlighting the current constraints and growth potential in the launch market.