Posted: Wed, Dec 10, 2003, 11:50 AM ET (1650 GMT)
The US Air Force announced Tuesday that it has awarded a launch contract to Lockheed Martin for a single classified payload launch. The $100-million contract covers the Atlas 5 launch of the National Reconnaissance Office East Coast Mission NRO L-30. The contract announcement does not specify the date of the launch, although Space News reported Wednesday that the launch will take place from Cape Canaveral in 2006. The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis because of the continued suspension of Boeing’s launch business from Defense Department contracts. This award is separate from the seven launches that were stripped from Boeing this summer and awarded to Lockheed Martin as a penalty for ethical misconduct by Boeing during the initial EELV competition.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Defense Department contract announcement