Remember that Air Force rocket contract Elon Musk was so peeved about? If you don't, let's recap: without accepting other bids, the Air Force awarded an exclusive deal to a company called United Launch Alliance that covers some 36 rocket launches -- launches Musk and his company SpaceX believed they were in line to compete for. Tonight in a series of tweets, Musk pointed out an article from The National Legal and Policy Center calling out the Air Force official in charge of the deal, Roger Correll, for taking a job with one of ULA's suppliers. Musk makes the accusation clear, saying "V likely AF official Correll was told by ULA/Rocketdyne that a rich VP job was his if he gave them a sole source contract. Reason I believe this is likely is that Correll first tried to work at SpaceX, but we turned him down. Our competitor, it seems, did not."
SpaceX is suing the Air Force over the contract, but it may be able to compete for some of those launches anyway. Air Force Space Command leader General William Shelton told Reuters the Air Force is working to certify SpaceX, and that it could compete for seven or eight launches before the process is completed. Meanwhile, ULA's CEO is claiming that his company provides the Air Force a better overll value than SpaceX is prepared to.
Air Force official awards $10B+ contract uncompeted & then takes lucrative job w funds recipient http://t.co/SHqFYWd3CR
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2014
V likely AF official Correll was told by ULA/Rocketdyne that a rich VP job was his if he gave them a sole source contract
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2014
Reason I believe this is likely is that Correll first tried to work at SpaceX, but we turned him down. Our competitor, it seems, did not.
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2014
Either way, this case certainly deserves close examination by the DoD Inspector General per @SenJohnMcCain's request http://t.co/IZ4JO2y3JO
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2014 Filed under: Transportation
Source: National Legal and Policy Center, Elon Musk (Twitter)
from Engadget Full RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1k090eR
via
Blogger Comment