NASA Selects SpaceX To Launch StarBurst Mission In 2028 Under $1B, 10-Year VADR Contract

NASA has selected SpaceX to launch its StarBurst mission, aimed at investigating neutron star mergers and gamma-ray bursts, under a firm-fixed-price task order as part of the $1 billion VADR contract. The mission will utilize a Falcon 9 rocket for a Bandwagon rideshare launch from Cape Canaveral, scheduled for no earlier than 2028. This contract allows NASA to procure launch services over a 10-year period, supporting lower-cost investigations in astrophysics.