The head of the U.S. Air Force on Thursday chided Elon Musk over his allegations that the Defense Department was dragging its feet in certifying his rockets for military use.
The SpaceX founder’s uneasy relationship with the Pentagon has already led him to sue the department in federal court in an effort to unlock a $11 billion deal with its main rocket providers, Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. Mediation to try to settle the case is due to start this month. The Air Force announced last week that SpaceX should be cleared to bid on Pentagon satellite launches by mid-2015, six months later than previously planned, prompting Mr. Musk to question the certification process.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Mr Musk’s comments in a media interview this week were unfortunate, but would not affect the certification process. “I only wish he had said this to me directly,” Ms. James said at a Pentagon briefing. Ms. James said she was disappointed the certification deadline had been missed, but said an independent review would examine the process…SpaceX declined to comment.”
(reported by Doug Cameron WSJ)
