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U.S. Air Force Certifies SpaceX for National Security Launches, Ending Monopoly
SpaceX Falcon 9 is now certified for USAF launches. SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon blastoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 14, 2015 at 4:10 p.m. EDT on the CRS-6 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
The U.S. Air Force announced Tuesday that they have certified SpaceX to launch the nations critical and highly valuable national security satellites on the firms Falcon 9 rocket, thereby breaking the decade old launch monopoly held by launch competitor United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA is a joint venture owned by aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The Air Force’s goal in approving the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster is aimed at drastically cutting the high cost of access to space by introducing competition in the awarding of military mission launch contacts. (…)
Read the rest of U.S. Air Force Certifies SpaceX for National Security Launches, Ending Monopoly (910 words)
© Ken Kremer for Universe Today, 2015. |
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Post tags: Atlas V, cape canaveral, cargo dragon, Delta IV Heavy rocket, Delta IV rocket, DOD, Elon Musk, Falcon 9 rocket, Falcon 9 v.1.1, military space, NASA, RD-180, SLC-40, Space Exploration Technologies, SpaceX, ULA, United Launch Alliance, US military, US national security, X-37B
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Source: http://www.universetoday.com/120513/u-s-air-force-certifies-spacex-for-national-security-launches-ending-monopoly/
