ULA and SpaceX awarded the U.S. Air Force a $384 million satellite launch deal

The U.S. Air Force awarded U.S. rocket manufacturer United Launch Alliance (ULA) and U.S. space exploration technology company SpaceX a $384 million contract.

The United Launch Alliance won a contract worth nearly $224.3 million, and SpaceX won a contract worth more than $159.7 million. According to the contract, the two companies will each launch two military satellites in 2023.

The Joint Launch Alliance will release USSF-112 and USSF-87 missions, of that the USSF-112 mission is planned to be launched in the second quarter of 2023, and the USSF-87 mission is planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2023.

SpaceX will launch USSF-36 and NROL-69 missions. The USSF-36 mission is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2023, and the NROL-69 mission is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2023.

Last year, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX also won multi-billion-dollar launch contracts with the US Air Force. Among them, the United Launch Alliance won 60% of the contract, and SpaceX won the remaining 40% of the contract.

As per the contract, the two companies will provide launch services to the US Air Force to complete the second phase of the National Security Space Launch Program.

The United Launch Alliance and SpaceX, Northrop Grumman (Northrop Grumman), and Bezos’ Blue Origin also bid for the contract, but it ended in failure.

(Via)