WASHINGTON - The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it has approved the joint venture between defense contractors Lockheed Martin Corp. and the Boeing Co. to launch government satellites, lifting a final barrier to the long-delayed proposal.
While the commission concluded that the $1.06 billion partnership between the nation’s two biggest defense firms could unfairly muscle out competitors, it said that concern was outweighed by the national security demands for a reliable and cheaper way to send military and other satellites into space.
