Space Force Adds Impulse Space, Relativity Space to Launch Bidders

The U.S. Space Force announced this week that it has added two new companies, Impulse Space and Relativity Space, to its pool of bidders eligible for launch contracts. This expansion into the military launch market signifies a milestone for rocket companies, indicating both maturity and access to significant revenue streams.

Relativity Space's inclusion was anticipated given its ongoing development of the heavy-lift Terran R rocket. The company, under the leadership of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, has been actively working towards bringing its partly reusable rocket to operational status. This progress makes its participation in military launch contracts a logical next step.

The addition of Impulse Space, however, presented a surprise to some observers. Impulse Space distinguishes itself by focusing on building spacecraft designed for in-space operations, rather than on the traditional Earth-based launch services that most companies in this sector provide. This specialization suggests a potential shift or diversification in the types of services the Space Force is seeking for its missions.