The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX 18 Falcon 9 launches for missile-tracking satellites, boosting revenue before its first earnings report.
SpaceX (SPCX) won a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Space Force to launch 18 Falcon 9 rockets carrying military satellites by the end of 2027. The deal, announced July 29, supports the Pentagon’s Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio, designed to detect hypersonic weapons and cruise missiles in real time.
The contract arrives as SpaceX prepares for its first earnings report as a public company, following a sharp decline in shares since its June IPO. The launches will originate from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, which allows competitive bidding for individual missions.
The satellites are part of the $185 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative proposed during the Trump administration. The timing of the award may influence investor sentiment ahead of earnings, though its impact on the stock remains uncertain.