SpaceX beats Boeing-Lockheed for $96.5M contract with US Air Force

SpaceX has been awarded a $96.5 million contract with the U.S. Air Force, once again beating out Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s joint venture, United Launch Alliance, for a chance to assist on future space missions. The new contract is set to take stage in 2019 when SpaceX will launch a GPS III Global Positioning Satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the Air Force. It is the second contract awarded to SpaceX by the Air Force. SpaceX won an $82.7 million contract last year to launch a GPS III satellite in 2018.

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, SpaceX will “provide launch vehicle production, mission integration and launch operation” for support of its GPS III mission aimed at deploying high precision anti-jamming satellites.

The Air Force issued the following excerpt from the Department of Defense PR:

“Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $96,500,490 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver a GPS III satellite to its intended orbit. Contractor will provide launch vehicle production, mission integration, launch operations, spaceflight worthiness and mission unique activities for a GPS III mission. Work will be performed at Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2019. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2016 space procurement funds in the amount of $96,500,490 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-17-C-0005).”

SpaceX’s next launch is scheduled for this Thursday, March 16 at 1:35AM EST.

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