[Satellite Today – 4-23-08] NASA has awarded Space Explorations Technologies (SpaceX) a launch services contract that could be worth up to $1 billion, NASA announced April 22.
    The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract allows NASA to order launch services on the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles through June 30, 2010, for launches to occur through December 2012. The contract is worth between $20,000 and $1 billion, depending on the number of missions awarded.
    Neither vehicle has yet performed a successful launch. Falcon 1 is scheduled to carry a U.S. Department of Defense Jumpstart mission in June, and the first Falcon 9 vehicle is scheduled to be delivered to the SpaceX launch site at Cape Canaveral, Fla., by the end of 2008.