[[Home|🏠]] <span style="color: LightSlateGray">></span> <span class="no-hover">[[Contracts & Vehicles]]</span> <span style="color: LightSlateGray">></span> SSC Neutron Upper Stage Development
>[!summary] Neutron Upper Stage Development Contract
**Date**: September 27, 2021
**Contract Value**: **$24.35 million**
**Agency**: [Space Systems Command (SSC)](https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/about-us/about-us)
**Vehicle**: [[Neutron]]
**Mechanism**: Prototype award via [Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC)](https://space-enterprise.org/)
**Purpose**: Fund development of **Neutron’s upper stage** to meet NSSL Phase 3 mission needs
>
> This award is part of a broader **$75 million R&D program** authorized by Congress to advance upper stage propulsion and architecture for U.S. national security launch systems.
## Objectives
âś… Develop a **high-performance upper stage** for Neutron with improved:
- Mass-to-orbit performance
- Orbital insertion precision
- Responsiveness for time-sensitive national defense payloads
âś… Prepare Rocket Lab for potential selection as an **NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 provider** by 2025
## Contract Context
| Element | Details |
|--------|---------|
| **Program** | National Security Space Launch (NSSL) |
| **Managing Org** | SSC Launch Enterprise |
| **Award Vehicle** | Prototype Other Transaction via [[SpEC]] |
| **Competitors** | ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Firefly, Relativity |
| **Future Path** | Award supports Rocket Lab’s onboarding into **NSSL Phase 3** |
| **Rocket** | [[Neutron]] (8-ton class reusable launcher) |
| **Engine** | [[Archimedes]] (ORSC cycle)
>[!quote] Peter Beck (CEO) on the award
> “This award is a vote of confidence in Neutron and our ability to deliver low-cost, responsive, dedicated launch for the U.S. Government.”
## Sources
- [Rocket Lab Press Release](https://rocketlabcorp.com/updates/rocket-lab-wins-24m-us-space-force-contract-to-develop-neutron-upper-stage/)
- [SpEC Program Overview](https://space-enterprise.org)
- [SpaceNews Article](https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-24m-us-space-force-contract-to-develop-neutron-upper-stage/)
## News
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| File | Published |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ |
| [[News/Rocket Lab Wins $24m U.S. Space Force Contract to Develop Neutron Upper Stage.md\|Rocket Lab Wins $24m U.S. Space Force Contract to Develop Neutron Upper Stage]] | September 27, 2021 |
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