Jacob Bailey, a spokesperson for the US Air Force, told Business Insider in an email.)īoth companies earned their launch rights through the second phase of a DoD program called National Security Space Launch, or NSSL, which emphasizes "innovation and agility" in ensuring the US military's ability to launch payloads into orbit. (That number could shift due to "warfighter requirements, constellation health, space vehicle readiness, and available funding," Capt. ULA will launch 20 missions, for a total of 34 classified launches. SpaceX is expected to launch 14 military and intelligence satellite missions, which will be managed by the recently formed Space Force. "Maintaining a competitive launch market, servicing both government and commercial customers, is how we encourage continued innovation on assured access to space." "This is a groundbreaking day, culminating years of strategic planning and effort by the Department of the Air Force,, and our launch service industry partners," William Roper, the USAF's assistant secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said in a press release. The other 60% went to United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The Department of Defense on Friday awarded Elon Musk's rocket company a 40% share of secretive Space Force launches planned from 2022 through 2027.
SpaceX has outmaneuvered its competitors in a high-stakes game of winning the Pentagon's favor - and earning the right to be one of its chariots to space.
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