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| SpaceX Says Boosting Output, |
| SpaceX Says Boosting Output, on Track for 13 Rocket Launches This Year
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 17-March-2015
9:3:50 AM |
| Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, is rapidly increasing production of the engines that power its Falcon 9 rocket and expects to meet its target of 13 launches and two test flights this year, President Gwynne Shotwell told Reuters.
SpaceX, the technology upstart founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is stepping up hiring of engineers and other workers to help boost production, including many from other sectors such as the automotive industry and the military, company officials said.
This year, the company expects to produce at least 180 engines, with that number set to increase to 240 next year, and 400 in 2017, Shotwell told Reuters in an interview late last week.
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Shotwell said increasing production put the company on track to complete 13 launches this year. It fell short of its targets last year due to a number of factors.
"Certainly from a manufacturing perspective, we should be able to meet those targets," said Shotwell, who is due to testify before the House Armed Service Committee today about a drive to end US reliance on a Russian-built engine that powers one of two rockets used by SpaceX rival United Launch Alliance (ULA).
The Air Force expects to certify SpaceX by June to launch some military and intelligence satellites using its Falcon 9 rockets.
Currently, those satellites can only be launched by ULA, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, the two largest US arms makers.
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