The development of commercial launch provider SpaceX’s single engine Falcon 1 rocket is being delayed to focus on the larger Falcon Heavy, which would allow it to compete with rival United Launch Alliance for government launches.
A SpaceX spokeswoman…
The development of commercial launch provider SpaceX’s single engine Falcon 1 rocket is being delayed to focus on the larger Falcon Heavy, which would allow it to compete with rival United Launch Alliance for government launches.
A SpaceX spokeswoman confirmed the US Air Force had advised that it must fly Falcon Heavy and activate new launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base to be considered for its Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle contract.
This contract is currently held by ULA, a JV between US contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
She declined to comment further on the plans, but added that Falcon 1’s development will also be delayed because of a focus this year on getting its astronaut and cargo carrying Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
SpaceX successfully launched Dragon into low Earth orbit in December using its medium-ranged Falcon 9 rocket. The group aims to use the capsule for a US$1.6bn agreement with NASA to supply missions on the ISS.
However, the Falcon 1 delays could reportedly affect up to 18 launches under contract with Orbcomm, the asset monitoring and messaging services provider based in the US.
According to SpaceX’s launch manifesto at the time of going to press, multiple flights are due to be launched for Orbcomm from 2011 to 2014 on the rockets from Kwajalein.
