certification
SpaceX Falcon 9 Certified for Military Launches
The U.S. Air Force has certified SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch military satellites, formally establishing a competitor to United Launch Alliance.
Open Issues Need Not Halt Falcon 9 Certification
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket could earn U.S. Air Force certification to launch national security satellites even with several issues outstanding provided the company presents a mutually acceptable plan and schedule for resolving them.
SpaceX Sends Air Force an Outline for Falcon Heavy Certification
SpaceX says it sent the U.S. Air Force an updated letter of intent April 14 outlining a certification process for its Falcon Heavy rocket to launch national security satellites.
SpaceX Says Falcon 9 Upgrade Won’t Require New Certification
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell on March 16 said the company’s introduction this year of a more-powerful Falcon 9, designed to permit the company to recover the rocket’s first stage for future reuse, will not begin another long process of U.S. government certification.
Certification Delay Dims SpaceX’s Hopes of Winning NRO Launch Contract
The U.S. Air Force, which as of mid-December still hoped to certify SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch national security payloads by the end of 2014, is now targeting the middle of 2015.
