What Happened
US Boosts Private Launch Sector Amid Falcon 9 Wind Down
The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital has committed $150 million each to Stoke Space and Rocket Lab, marking the first significant investment in launch companies by the office. The move comes as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is winding down its commercial operations, with the US Space Force able to order launches through 2029. The investment is seen as a boost to the private launch sector, with Stoke Space and Rocket Lab poised to benefit from the growing demand for launch services. This development was first reported by Ars Technica.