The Air Force on Wednesday awarded its first competed space launch contract in more than 10 years.
The service awarded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) a $83 million firm-fixed price, standalone contract to launch a Global Positioning System III (GPS III) satellite. The launch will be the second GPS III launch and is scheduled to take place at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in May 2018.
SpaceX will provide the Air Force with a “total launch solution,” including launch vehicle production, mission integration, launch operations and spaceflight certification. SpaceX was though to be the only bidder for the launch as incumbent United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA] decided not to bid. But the Defense Department contract announcement made late Wednesday said two bids were received.