Nichols Martin
Space Exploration Technologies has received a $40.8 million contract modification to further develop a rocket propulsion system prototype for the U.S. Air Force‘s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
The Defense Department said Thursday SpaceX will continue development of the Raptor engine technology through April 30, 2018, under the modification.
USAF awarded the company a $61.4 million “other transaction” agreement last year to build alternative EELV propulsion systems.
Work under the modification will occur at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi; Hawthorne, California; McGregor, Texas; and Los Angeles AF Base, California.
The EELV program works to help USAF gain access to multiple launch vehicle platforms from industry that can support Defense Department and other U.S. national security missions.
