LOS ANGELES AFB, Calif. - The U.S. Air Force has announced the certification of the Space Exploration Technologies Corp's (SpaceX's) Falcon 9 launch vehicle for national security space missions. The decision came after a two-year-long certification process. According to an Air Force statement, the service invested more than $60 million and 150 people during the certification effort, which encompassed 125 certification criteria. The certification established a technical baseline from which the Air Force will make future flight worthiness determinations for launch.
The Air Force initially said that three Falcon 9 flights between September 2013 and January 2014 met the requirement for demonstration flights. With those flights completed, the USAF expected certification to be completed by the end of 2014. However, the process was delayed and even became contentious when SpaceX initiated a lawsuit against the Air Force over what is saw as monopolistic practices by United Launch Alliance.
With the certification now complete, SpaceX is now eligible for award of qualified national security space launch missions as one of two currently certified launch providers. The first upcoming opportunity for SpaceX to compete to provide launch services is projected to be in June when the Air Force releases a Request for Proposal for GPS III launch services.
SpaceX's low prices are driving changes to the launch industry. The company has already been competitive in the commercial market, becoming one of the dominant players - along with Arianespace. The certification to carry national security payloads will improve the market for the Falcon 9 and will lower launch costs for the Air Force.
SpaceX has also been a catalyst for change at other companies in the launch industry. ULA recently announced plans to develop a new lower cost launch vehicle that will enable it to better compete with SpaceX. Although average costs for the new launch vehicle, known as the Vulcan, are unknown, ULA is targeting a starting price of $100 million.
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