Space X’s Falcon Heavy is back in the headlines. After just one successful flight, the private company’s rocket was certified by the U.S. Air Force for military launches and awarded its first highly coveted contract: the AFSPC-52 mission. Wired reports that the contract is valued at $130 million, which is the price of ferrying the Air Force Space Command-52 satellite to its intended orbit in the year 2020. This contract was highly sought after, and the Air Force noted that more than one launch provider put in a bid.
“SpaceX is honored by the Air Force’s selection of Falcon Heavy to launch the competitively-awarded AFSPC-52 mission,” SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement released to the media last week, according to Wired. “On behalf of all of our employees, I want to thank the Air Force for certifying Falcon Heavy, awarding us this critically important mission, and for their trust and confidence in our company.”
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