It wasn’t too long ago that SpaceX sued the US Air Force for not giving the company a chance to bid for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program contract, claiming that the USAF accepted bribes from SpaceX’s competitors to prevent the private space company from getting to bid for the contract. Now the two groups have come to agreement in which SpaceX drops its accusations and the USAF will add more launches that companies will be able to bid on.
The Air Force and SpaceX have reached agreement on a path forward for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program that improves the competitive landscape and achieves mission assurance for national security space launches. Under the agreement, the Air Force will work collaboratively with SpaceX to complete the certification process in an efficient and expedient manner. This collaborative effort will inform the SECAF directed review of the new entrant certification process. The Air Force also has expanded the number of competitive opportunities for launch services under the EELV program while honoring existing contractual obligations. Going forward, the Air Force will conduct competitions consistent with the emergence of multiple certified providers. Per the settlement, SpaceX will dismiss its claims relating to the EELV block buy contract pending in the United States Court of Federal Claims.