NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to SpaceX

In a press release dated April 22nd 2008, NASA announced the awarding of a NASA Launch Services contract for the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles. (Video)

The contract seeks a launch capability for payloads weighing 551 pounds or heavier into a circular orbit of 124 miles at an orbital inclination of 28.5 degrees. Payloads would be launched to support three NASA mission directorates: Science, Space Operations and Exploration Systems.

SpaceX was created in 2002 by Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal and the Zip2 Corporation. The company has two past launches in its launch manifest from a private island launch complex located in the Pacific Ocean’s Kawajalein Atoll. It has 12 more launches slated from mid 2008 through 2011.

The potential total value of this most recent contract is between $20,000 and $1 billion, depending on the number of missions awarded.

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