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SpaceX Wins $130 Million Air Force Launch Contract, Marking a First For Falcon Heavy (geekwire.com)
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $130 million firm-fixed-price contract to SpaceX for the launch of its classified AFSPC-52 satellite on a Falcon Heavy rocket. From a report: It's the first national security contract won for SpaceX's heavy-lift rocket, which had its first test flight in February. AFSPC-52 is tue to lift off in 2020 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch will support the Air Force Space Command's "mission of delivering resilient and affordable space capabilities to our nation while maintaining assured access to space," Lt. Gen. John Thompson, Air Force program executive officer for space and commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, said today in a news release. In an emailed statement, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said her company was "honored by the Air Force's selection of Falcon Heavy to launch the competitively awarded AFSPC-52 mission."
"Air Force"? Don't you mean...Space Force?
No, silly-head. The mission failure was due to Northrup Grumman, not SpaceX. The government said so in their own report. By asking if SpaceX is going to be allowed to make it, I meant that SpaceX would do a better job.
Bruce Perens.
ULA USED to charge over 300M per launch. SX has forced it way down and they are still too expensive. That $354M does not include the 1B yearly subsidy .
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.