SpaceX wins NASA contract to launch gamma-ray astronomy mission
NASA Space Technology The Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) will study gamma-ray emissions in the galaxy using a spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Credit: UC BerkeleyWASHINGTON NASA has selected SpaceX to launch a small gamma-ray astronomy mission on a Falcon 9 in 2027.NASA announced July 2 that it awarded a contract to SpaceX to launch the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) spacecraft, a small Explorer-class, or SMEX, mission into low Earth orbit. The contract, valued at about $69 million, covers the August 2027 launch and related activities.A NASA spokesperson told SpaceNews the agency could not release details on the number of companies that bid on the launch, which was done as a task order through the NASA Launch Services 2 contract vehicle. Such information is considered source selection sensitive, the agency said.NASA selected...
