US Space Force Adds Impulse Space and Relativity Space to Launch Contract Bidders

The US Space Force has added two more companies to the list of bidders eligible to compete for its launch contracts: Impulse Space and Relativity Space. For a rocket company, gaining entry into the lucrative US military launch market is both a sign of maturity and an important source of revenue. Relativity Space's inclusion is perhaps not surprising, given the company's progress toward launching its heavy-lift Terran R rocket.

Under the leadership of former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, the company has continued to work toward bringing the partly reusable rocket to the launch pad. The addition of Impulse Space, however, comes as a surprise. The company specializes in building spacecraft for in-space operations, rather than launching from Earth.

Impulse Space and Relativity Space are now part of a growing list of companies competing for US military launch contracts. The expansion of the bidder pool reflects the US Space Force's efforts to increase competition and innovation in the launch market. Why this matters: The addition of Impulse Space and Relativity Space to the list of bidders eligible for US military launch contracts has significant implications for the industry.

For Impulse Space, which doesn't have a launch capability, this development raises questions about how the company will participate in the launch market. Will it partner with an existing launch provider or develop its own capabilities? For Relativity Space, this move validates its progress toward developing a heavy-lift rocket.

The increased competition in the launch market is likely to drive innovation and reduce costs for the US military, which relies heavily on launch services for its space operations. As the US Space Force continues to expand its presence in space, the demand for reliable and cost-effective launch services will only grow, making this development a crucial one to watch in the coming months.