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United Launch Alliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It produces the Atlas V, Delta II, and Delta IV launch vehicles. The joint venture officially began operations on December 1, 2006.[1]
ULA's operations include production at the former Boeing plant in Decatur, Alabama with engineering operations remaining at the Lockheed Martin Complex in Littleton, CO.
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Boeing and Lockheed Martin announced their intent to form of the United Launch Alliance joint venture on May 2, 2005. The joint venture merges the production of both of their government space launch services into one central plant in Decatur, Alabama and all engineering into another central plant in Littleton, CO. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Delta IV and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Atlas V are both launchers developed for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program intended to provide the United States government with competitively priced private spaceflight and assured access to space.
SpaceX challenged the antitrust legality of the launch services monopoly on October 23, 2005. SpaceX is interested in competing for government launch contracts with the yet-to-be-built Falcon 5 rocket. On January 7, 2006 the Department of Defense gave preliminary approval to the United Launch Alliance while the Federal Trade Commission has yet to issue a final decision.
In September of 2006, the Pentagon renewed their support for a United Launch Alliance. The Pentagon announced their support to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), who gave their anti-trust clearance on October 3, 2006.
The joint venture received final approval from the Federal Trade Commission and began operations on December 1, 2006. ULA is expected to bring an estimated 230 jobs to the Decatur Metropolitan Area.
Boeing is seeking a contract to produce launch vehicles for NASA's Ares 1 program that will be built to replace the aging shuttle program. The launching systems would be based on the Delta IV Rockets's cryogenic launch system.[2]
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| Date & Time (GMT) | Rocket | Launch site | Payload | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 December 2006 21:00 |
Delta II 7920-10 | Vandenberg AFB SLC-2W | NRO L-21 (NRO) | Successful, payload later failed | First ULA launch |
| 17 February 2007 23:01 |
Delta II 7925-10C | CCAFS LC-17B | THEMIS (NASA) | Successful | |
| 9 March 2007 02:37-04:42 |
Atlas V 401 | CCAFS LC-41 | STP-1 (US Air Force) | Successful | |
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| 3 April 2007 | Atlas V 411 | Vandenberg AFB SLC-3W | NRO-L28 (NRO) | Scheduled | |
| April 2007 | Delta IV-H | CCAFS LC-37B | DSP-23 (US Air Force) | Scheduled | |
- United Launch Alliance
- Boeing, Lockheed Martin to Form Launch Services Joint Venture
- Full Summons and Complaint by SpaceX against Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation
- FTC gives prelimanary clearance to United Launch Alliance
- United Launch Alliance begins Operations
- ^ United Launch Alliance Transaction completed
- ^ A giant leap for Decautr?. Decatur Daily Newspaper (03-29-2007).