WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has awarded United Launch Alliance (ULA) of Denver a $1.5 billion firm, fixed-price contract that runs through June 2014 and covers a total of nine launches.

According to a list of contracts posted online Jan. 10 by the Pentagon, the Air Force purchased five Atlas 5 launches and four Delta 4 launches.

Atlas 5 will launch the Air Force’s Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-19, Mobile User Objective System-3 and three National Reconnaissance Office missions. Delta 4 will launch a mission known as Air Force Space Command-4, two GPS satellites, and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-20, according to the Pentagon list.

Dan Leone is a SpaceNews staff writer, covering NASA, NOAA and a growing number of entrepreneurial space companies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public communications from the American University in Washington.