A Very Merry Christmas at SpaceX December 24, 2008
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Armadillo Aerospace, Space News, Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
Santa has been very good to SpaceX this year. They just received the 1.6 billion dollar Cargo Resupply Service (CRS) contract from NASA. This means that they will start delivering supplies to the ISS in 2010. This also places the company of firm financial footing so they can pursue their plans to ramp up the Falcon 9 production lines to full capacity. With options to extend the contract for up to $3.1 billion, this is a juicy award, and it represents a substantial percentage of NASA’s $16 – $20 billion annual budget.
I don’t know how many SpaceX employees are celebrating though. With their first Falcon 9 arriving at Cape Canaveral in sections, they have a log of work ahead of them. They claim they will complete vehicle integration before the first of the New Year, but I think they have their work cut out for them.
With Falcon 9 at Space Launch Complex 40, White Night 2 performing test flights, and Armadillo Aerospace holding the Lunar Lander Challenge prize, it’s an exciting time for the New Space businesses.
