SpaceX Achieves Key Milestone of Tenth Launch Agreement
El Segundo CA – May 30, 2006 – SpaceX announced that the number of launches on manifest has now reached double digits. The ninth launch, already announced, is with MDA Corporation of Canada and will carry the Cassiope satellite on a Falcon 9 in mid 2008.
The tenth launch agreement is a second responsive launch demonstration of the Falcon 1 for DARPA / Air Force in late 2006. This follows the first responsive launch demonstration in March 2006, which was also the maiden flight of Falcon 1.
In addition to the ten launches on manifest, SpaceX has a $100 million IDIQ contract for launch of Falcon 1 in place with the Air Force.
“SpaceX is very appreciative of the continued support and confidence of our customers,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO. “With our Falcon family of launch vehicles, SpaceX offers the ability to deliver any satellite into any orbit at the most cost effective price in the world. The evidence is clear that the market is responding to that fact.”
Launch Manifest
Below is the upcoming launch manifest. SpaceX has launch
complexes at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg and the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein Atoll),
allowing direct launch to any inclination. Through our Kwajalein launch site on
Omelek Island, SpaceX is the only US heavy lift provider with an equatorial launch
location.
| Customer | Launch Date | Vehicle | Departure Point |
| US Defense Dept (DARPA) | Q1 2006 | Falcon 1 | Kwajalein |
| US Defense Dept (DARPA) | Q4 2006 | Falcon 1 | Kwajalein |
| US Defense Dept (OSD/NRL) | Q4 2006 | Falcon 1 | Kwajalein |
| Malaysia (ATSB) | Q3 2007 | Falcon 1 | Kwajalein |
| US Government | Q1 2008 | Falcon 9 | Kwajalein |
| SpaceDev | Q2 2008 | Falcon 1 | Vandenberg |
| MDA Corp. | Q2 2008 | Falcon 9 | Kwajalein |
| MDA Corp. | Q3 2008 | Falcon 1 | Vandenberg |
| Bigelow Aerospace | Q4 2008 | Falcon 9 | Kwajalein |
| Swedish Space Corp. | Q4 2009 | Falcon 1 | Vandenberg |
| US Air Force | $100 million contract thru 2010 | Falcon 1 | TBD |
About SpaceX
SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of both manned and unmanned space transportation ultimately by a factor of ten. With its Falcon line of launch vehicles, SpaceX is able to offer light, medium and heavy lift capabilities, as well as deliver spacecraft into any inclination and altitude, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit to planetary missions.