Satellite Today learned that the U.S. Air Force awarded a $54 million launch contract to The Boeing Co. [BA] that calls for the use of four Delta II rockets to launch GPS satellites. To issue the contract, the Air Force needed to temporarily suspend a ban that precludes Boeing from bidding for federal launch contracts; in 2003, improperly obtained documents belonging to Lockheed Martin [LMT] were discovered in Boeing’s possession. The Air Force cited national security reasons for its temporary suspension of the ban.