3D render of planet Earth viewed from space, with night lights in Europe and sun rising over Asia. Blue hue treatment. Elements from NASA (https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/57000/57752/land_shallow_topo_2048.jpg)

U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) plans to issue its fiscal 2027 solicitation for new rocket companies for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3, Lane 1 next month with a proposal due date of mid-December, according to a briefing last week by SSC, Space Development Agency (SDA), and National Reconnaissance Office officials at Los Angeles AFB, Calif. SSC has said it plans to "on-ramp" new launch providers annually, yet thus far only three of seven "on-ramped" companies have…