In a statement announcing the contract, Lt. Col. Douglas Downs, the Space Force's materiel leader for space launch procurement, said: "We expect to see increasing competition and diversity with the ability to on-ramp new providers. This contract will provide a stable and reliable launch capability for our national security space missions."

The contract is a significant development for the launch industry, and will likely have a major impact on the market in the years to come. As the Space Force continues to modernize its launch capabilities, it will be interesting to see how the competitive landscape evolves and which companies emerge as major players in the industry.