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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| SpaceX cleared for US military launches | SpaceX cleared for US military launches |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The US Air Force has certified the private company SpaceX to launch military and spy satellites. | The US Air Force has certified the private company SpaceX to launch military and spy satellites. |
| A joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing has had a monopoly on those launches since 2006. | |
| Founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, SpaceX has already won contracts with NASA to ferry cargo and crews to the International Space Station. | Founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, SpaceX has already won contracts with NASA to ferry cargo and crews to the International Space Station. |
| The approval from the US military followed two years of intensive reviews by the US Air Force. | The approval from the US military followed two years of intensive reviews by the US Air Force. |
| "SpaceX's emergence as a viable commercial launch provider provides the opportunity to compete launch services for the first time in almost a decade," Air Force Secretary Deborah James said in a statement. | "SpaceX's emergence as a viable commercial launch provider provides the opportunity to compete launch services for the first time in almost a decade," Air Force Secretary Deborah James said in a statement. |
| Mr Musk said the decision was "an important step toward bringing competition to national security space launch." | Mr Musk said the decision was "an important step toward bringing competition to national security space launch." |
| In June, the Air Force expects to open bidding for the contract to launch GPS satellites built by Lockheed and it will be SpaceX's first opportunity to compete for military work. | In June, the Air Force expects to open bidding for the contract to launch GPS satellites built by Lockheed and it will be SpaceX's first opportunity to compete for military work. |
| Russian engines | Russian engines |
| The US military has been relying on the Atlas 5 rocket, which uses Russian built engines, to power payloads into space. | The US military has been relying on the Atlas 5 rocket, which uses Russian built engines, to power payloads into space. |
| But the military only has until 2019 to use that system, as US lawmakers have banned the use of Russian engines for launches that concern national security. | But the military only has until 2019 to use that system, as US lawmakers have banned the use of Russian engines for launches that concern national security. |
| The certification of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will give the military an alternative rocket ahead of the ban. | The certification of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will give the military an alternative rocket ahead of the ban. |