Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB) saw its shares climb about 3% on Friday morning after securing a key spot in the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The $5.6 billion initiative aims to ensure reliable access to space for top-priority defense missions.

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The company is now one of five eligible launch providers for the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program. With a five-year ordering period running through June 2029, Rocket Lab will compete for mission contracts that could extend until 2034. As part of the selection, Rocket Lab receives a $5 million task order to assess and demonstrate its mission assurance capabilities.

Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket, a 13-ton reusable medium-lift vehicle, will support these launches. Designed for payloads up to 13,000 kg, Neutron is being fast-tracked to meet high-assurance national security demands. The rocket's first launch, set for later this year from Wallops Island, Virginia, will determine its eligibility for future mission assignments under the NSSL program.

With 63 successful Electron launches, Rocket Lab remains a key player in the evolving space industry, strengthening its foothold in national security operations.