Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, was recently selected to be the first commercial company to launch a military payload into space. The company plans to employ its Falcon Heavy rocket to deliver an Air Force satellite into orbit in 2020. The massive rocket will carry a secretive military satellite known as AFSPC-52. SpaceX will receive $130 million, under the terms of a fixed-price contract.
Two proposals for the launch were submitted – one from SpaceX and another from United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. For national security reasons, the two companies are the only ones eligible to launch certain military satellites into space. It’s the first contract awarded to SpaceX by the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable rocket designed for heavy-lift launches. It’s based on SpaceX's Falcon 9 vehicle with a reinforced first stage and two attached boosters. It famously carried a Tesla Roadster into orbit on its initial launch in February.
The primary benefits realized by the DoD and Air Force in seeking bids from SpaceX and ULA are timeliness and cost reduction. Not only is there greater flexibility with the launch dates but in some cases, the cost savings can be as high as 25 percent when comparing a commercial provider with NASA.
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