Space X is making more inroads with military contracts.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced that the next launch of the secretive X-37B space plane will be in August on the back of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
The revelation at a Senate Armed Forces Committee Hearing comes a month after Space X executed its first mission for the government, bringing a classified satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office in May.
It will be the first time Space X helps launch the Air Force's space craft, which looks like a miniature space shuttle, but the military has been tight-lipped about the actual activities, capabilities and payloads of the X-37B, which has been launched four times before by United Launch Alliance.
Space X has also secured contracts to launch two new GPS satellites for the Air Force, which will likely happen next year. The government is willing to use recycled rockets, which Space X has seen increasing success with, in order to reduce costs.
(Photo credit: Joe Raedle)