Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

U.S. rocket firm puts Malaysian satellite in orbit

Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:46am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

The firm's biggest customer is NASA, which has reservations for more than half of SpaceX's two dozen upcoming missions. The company has contracts to develop and deliver a space station cargo vehicle. It also is petitioning for a $300 million contract addition to upgrade its Dragon capsule to ferry astronauts to and from the space station after NASA retires its space shuttle fleet next year.

"It's a no-lose proposition for the taxpayer," Musk said. "If we don't do what we say we're going to do, we don't get paid."

Falcon 9's debut flight is scheduled for October from a new launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

A Greek flag at the Bank of Greece is seen near a statue of ancient philosopher Socrates in Athens February 5, 2010.  REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis/Files
Greek crisis sets euro zone enlargement back

The Greek debt crisis has dealt a setback to prospects of enlarging the euro zone by highlighting the difficulties of managing the single currency area.  Full Article