Pentagon backs Stoke Space and Rocket Lab with $150 million loans as Falcon retirement raises launch-capacity concerns

The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital announced conditional loan commitments of $150 million each to Stoke Space and Rocket Lab, the first significant OSC support for launch companies. The moves come as SpaceX considers winding down its Falcon rocket program, which defense officials appear to view as a potential national security risk.

The loans could help expand alternatives to Falcon, giving defense planners another path to commercial launch capacity. But the article does not specify how the funding will affect either company’s launch schedules or whether their rockets can replace Falcon’s role.