After a two year, $60 million certification effort, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has become the second provider currently capable of launching space vehicles for the Air Force under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. This allows the Hawthorne, California-based company to bid on national security space-launch missions using its Falcon 9 Launch System.
Air Force Certifies SpaceX as Space Launch Provider
Key Takeaways:
- SpaceX has completed a two-year, $60 million certification effort, becoming the second provider capable of launching Air Force vehicles under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.
- This certification allows SpaceX to bid on national security space-launch missions using its Falcon 9 system, introducing competition to the market for the first time in nearly a decade.
- The Air Force expects this new competition to drive down costs for taxpayers and improve military resiliency.
- SpaceX's first opportunity to compete will be against United Launch Alliance (ULA) for GPS III launch services, with a request for proposal due in June.
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