SpaceX Wins $96.6 Million Air Force Contract To Launch Satellite

HAWTHORNE, CA -- Hawthorne-based SpaceX has won a $96.5 million contract to launch a military navigation satellite for the U.S. Air Force.

SpaceX will deliver a GPS-III satellite into orbit for the military from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in February 2019, according to Los Angeles Air Force Base officials. The satellite will expand military and civilian anti- jamming capabilities and improve navigation and timing accuracy.

The commercial rocket maker beat out the military's legacy launch provider, Boeing’s United Launch Alliance, for the deal, the Daily Breeze reported. This is the second military contract that Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has snagged since winning approval in 2015 to bid on the deals.

Twelve more competitive launch services are planned through 2019, and may include new heavy-launch vehicles, according to the Air Force.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of SpaceX