SpaceX awarded contract from the US Air Force to provide Falcon rockets for two missions in 2014 and 2015

Private spacecraft manufacturing firm SpaceX has been awarded two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class missions from the Air Force, marking the first time the company received any sort of military contract. The two missions will take place in 2014 and 2015, both using SpaceX’s Falcon launch rockets. The first mission will utilize the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which recently powered the first privatized space flight to the International Space Station. The second mission will use the Falcon Heavy, a more powerful rocket that hasn’t been flown in outer space yet —it’s expected to begin test flights sometime in 2013. “SpaceX deeply appreciates and is honored by the vote of confidence shown by the Air Force in our Falcon launch vehicles,” said Elon Musk, the CEO and chief designer at SpaceX. Between the ISS mission and its first military contract, SpaceX is certainly positioning itself to be a go-to source for future outer space needs.