Space Force Awards $60M to Break SpaceX Orbital Monopoly

M&A · PartnershipIndustry Impact 4
โดย 24/7 Wall St.·US·Read original
Summary · why it matters

The U.S. Space Force has awarded five $12 million contracts under a $60 million effort to prove non-SpaceX satellites can plug into the Space Data Network backbone that SpaceX built under a $2.29 billion award in May 2026. The move comes as SpaceX completed its 100th launch of 2026, pushing the Starlink constellation past 11,000 satellites. L3Harris Technologies, AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, Viasat, and Iridium Communications are directly positioned to benefit from the Pentagon's push to avoid single-vendor dependency in space. Rocket Lab's $8 billion all-stock acquisition of Iridium, announced June 28 and targeted to close mid-2027, would create the only vertically integrated public SpaceX alternative, folding in 66 operational satellites and roughly $870 million in annual revenue.

Impact on stocks 6

Space Economy▲ · 4 stocks
Iridium Communications Inc
IRDM
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Iridium is one of five companies awarded contracts to integrate with Space Data Network, reducing reliance on SpaceX.

Rocket Lab USA Inc.
RKLB
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Rocket Lab is a direct beneficiary of the Space Force's push to diversify space infrastructure, and its acquisition of Iridium strengthens its position.

Ast Spacemobile Inc
ASTS
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Space Force contracts to prove non-SpaceX satellites can use Space Data Network directly benefit AST SpaceMobile.

Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation▲ · 2 stocks
L3Harris Technologies Inc
LHX
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

L3Harris is among the five companies receiving contracts to demonstrate interoperability with the Space Data Network.

ViaSat Inc
VSAT
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Viasat is one of the five companies awarded contracts to integrate with the Space Data Network, expanding its government business.

Theme Impact 7

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