Space / Launch / Satellites

The setup

The US government is significantly investing in space exploration and satellite infrastructure, with NASA leading multi-billion dollar contracts for Mars and Europa missions, as well as ongoing International Space Station (ISS) support. Concurrently, NOAA is upgrading its geostationary satellite systems to enhance weather forecasting and environmental monitoring capabilities. This coordinated effort spans multiple agencies and billions in funding, indicating a sustained commitment to both deep space science and critical Earth-observing infrastructure.

How this developed

1. Sep 23, 2024NASA awarded California Institute of Technology $1.4B for the 2020 Mars Science Rover Project - Phase A.Federal contract
2. Jan 30, 2025NASA awarded Amentum Technology, Inc. $2.1B for Test and Operations Support Contract (TOSC) at Kennedy Space Center.Federal contract
3. Feb 6, 2025NASA Goddard Space Flight Center awarded Peraton Inc. $1.2B for Space Communications Networks Services (SCNS).Federal contract
4. Jul 14, 2025NASA awarded California Institute of Technology $182.5M for the Europa Lander Mission Pre-Phase A.Federal contract
5. Jul 29, 2025NASA awarded Firefly Aerospace Inc. $57.5M for lunar payload services.Federal contract
6. Feb 4, 2026The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, focusing on lunar exploration and ISS deorbit, was reported from committee.Bill
7. Apr 10, 2026NOAA awarded L3Harris Technologies, Inc. $1.8B to develop the ground system for the GOES-R geostationary satellite series.Federal contract
8. Jul 27, 2026NASA awarded Lockheed Martin Corp $2.0B for the next-generation GOES series satellites.Federal contract
9. Aug 18, 2026NASA awarded California Institute of Technology $1.2B for the M2020 Mars Science Rover Project - Phase A-D.Federal contract
10. Aug 20, 2026NASA awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation $1.6B for a NextSTEP contract building on ISS resupply services.Federal contract
11. Sep 1, 2026NOAA NESDIS issued a solicitation for yearly maintenance of generators at its Satellite Operations Control Center.Procurement notice

Why it matters

• NASA is committing significant resources, over $2.8 billion, to deep space exploration with contracts for Mars Science Rover (E1, E10) and Europa Lander (E4) missions, indicating a long-term focus beyond Earth orbit.
• Over $4.9 billion in contracts (E2, E3, E11) are dedicated to maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure for space operations, including Kennedy Space Center support, space communications, and ISS resupply, ensuring ongoing mission capability.
• NOAA is investing over $3.8 billion (E7, E9) in next-generation geostationary satellites (GOES-R series) and their ground systems, which will significantly improve weather forecasting and environmental monitoring capabilities.
• The unanimous committee vote for the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 (E6) signals strong bipartisan support for continued lunar and Mars exploration, providing a legislative foundation for future contracts in the space sector.

Named in a federal contract

Only companies that a specific contract in this theme names as recipient or parent. Not a recommendation.

The record · 11 items, oldest first

• Sep 23, 2024Federal contractCALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: IGF::CL::IGF 2020 MARS SCIENCE ROVER PROJECT - PHASE A THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE A
• Jan 30, 2025Federal contractAMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC.: IGF::OT::IGF THE TEST AND OPERATIONS SUPPORT CONTRACT (TOSC) IS A COST-PLUS-AWARD-FEE CONTRACT WITH AN INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTI
• Feb 6, 2025Federal contractPERATON INC.: NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER'S (GSFC) GOAL FOR THE SPACE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS SERVICES CONTRACT (SCNS) IS TO ENABLE MISSION SUCCESS F
• Jul 14, 2025Federal contractCALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: EUROPA LANDER MISSION PRE-PHASE A THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)
• Jul 29, 2025Federal contractFIREFLY AEROSPACE INC: $57.5M National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contract
• Feb 4, 2026BillNASA Reauthorization Act of 2026
• Apr 10, 2026Federal contractL3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO DEVELOP THE GROUND SYSTEM THAT WILL SUPPORT NOAA S NEXT GENERATION GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE SERIES, GOES-R
• Jul 27, 2026Federal contractLOCKHEED MARTIN CORP: THE GOVERNMENT IS PROCURING THE NEXT-GENERATION GEOSTATIONARY OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES (GOES) SERIES TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION THR
• Aug 18, 2026Federal contractCALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: M2020 MARS SCIENCE ROVER PROJECT-PHASE A-D 60-19107 THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADM
• Aug 20, 2026Federal contractNORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION: IGF::OT::IGF NEXTSTEP NRA AWARD. THIS NEXTSTEP CONTRACT BUILDS UPON THE SUCCESS OF COMMERCIAL ORBITAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SPACE ACT AGR
• Sep 1, 2026Procurement noticeRevised Solicitation to: Yearly Preventive Maintenance and Repairs, as needed, for Four (4) Cat® C32 1000 kW (60 Hz) Diesel Generators, NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC)

Some keyword matches were judged unrelated to this theme and are excluded from the record above.

How this story evolved

Earlier versions of this narrative will appear here as the record is re-read.