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SpaceX Launch Update

By Staff Writer | July 31, 2006

      Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, has 10 launches on its manifest, according to the company.

      Late this year, SpaceX will use the Falcon 1 rocket in a launch for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the Air Force.

      The first responsive launch demonstration, fired off in March, was the maiden flight of Falcon 1

      Additionally, the ninth launch, already announced, is with MDA Corporation

      Aside from the ten launches on manifest, SpaceX has a $100 million IDIQ contract for launch of Falcon 1 in place with the Air Force, according to the company .

      “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.”

      SpaceX has launch complexes at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein Atoll). This permits direct launch to any inclination, according to SpaceX. With its Kwajalein launch site on Omelek Island, SpaceX is the only U.S. heavy lift provider with an equatorial launch location, the company asserts.

      This is the launch manifest supplied by SpaceX:

      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