SpaceX Launches Boeing’s Satellite into Orbit

Elon Mask’s SpaceX and aerospace giant, Boeing joined hands for a satellite launch, CNN reported on Wednesday. On Tuesday, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lofted Boeing’s Amos-17 satellite into orbit. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral at 7:20 pm ET. The estimated cost of the satellite is $161 million.

The satellite was built for Space.com, an Israel-based space company. Space .com had chosen SpaceX over United Launch Alliance, another rocket launching company which is half-owned by Boeing due to the fact that ULA’s rockets are not built for commercial use. On the other hand, ULAs rocketsare specially built for lofting expensive government payloads.

The financial terms of the contract were not revealed by any of the companies. Furthermore, Boeing is a founding sponsor for Space.com.

According to reports by Fox Business, the satellite is built for purposes such as broadcast, broadband and data activity across the African subcontinent. Amos-17 is likely to be in operation for a minimum of twenty years.

Boeing’s satellites do launch on ULA rockets, but they’re also compatible with Falcon 9 and rockets developed by Arianespace, a European company. And Boeing built Delta rockets can loft payloads delivered by rivals such as Ball Aerospace.

It is learned that Boeing and SpaceX are arch-rivals since both of them are looking for the glory of returning human space flight to America for the first in ten years.