United Launch Alliance (ULA) is an American launch service provider, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. As a launch provider, ULA designs, assembles, sells, and launches rockets like the Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur, providing access to space for national security payloads, commercial satellites, and deep-space exploration missions. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and commercial entities. Key activities involve launch services, rocket development, and partnerships with organizations like NASA and ESA for various space missions.
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The GEM 63 motors used by United Launch Alliance on its Atlas V rocket are 20.1 m long.
The first GEM 63 motors supported United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket in November 2020.
Northrop Grumman completed a static firing of the strap-on solid booster it developed for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket on 2021-01-21.
Northrop Grumman developed the GEM 63XL in partnership with United Launch Alliance to provide additional lift capability to the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
United Launch Alliance planned to introduce the Vulcan launch vehicle and promised it would be ready in 2021.
Boeing is planning additional work with United Launch Alliance to test integration of Starliner with the Atlas V launch vehicle.
The Russian RD-180 powers the first stage of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket.
United Launch Alliance selected Blue Origin’s BE-4 to power the first stage of its new Vulcan rocket.
The AR1 contract awarded in 2016 was later reduced to $350,000,000 after United Launch Alliance selected Blue Origin’s BE-4 for its Vulcan rocket.
NASA’s Landsat-9 mission is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 launch vehicle in September 2021.
Aerojet Rocketdyne won a Pentagon contract in 2016 to develop the AR1 rocket engine intended to compete for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan main engine role.
United Launch Alliance selected Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman) in September 2015 to supply solid rocket boosters for Atlas 5 and Vulcan.
United Launch Alliance selected Blue Origin’s BE-4 in September 2018 for its Vulcan main engine.
Blue Origin delivered two BE-4 pathfinder engines for ground tests and will deliver the actual flight BE-4 engines to United Launch Alliance’s factory in Decatur, Alabama in summer 2021.
United Launch Alliance attributed the NROL-44 problems to aging equipment and difficulties operating launch pads that are rarely used.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket uses BE-4 engines provided by Blue Origin.
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket will be ready to launch its first mission in late 2021.
United Launch Alliance plans to have both the Vulcan Centaur and its first customer, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, on the launch pad by the end of 2021.
A National Reconnaissance Office classified satellite flew to orbit on 2020-12-10 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket.
The 2020-12-10 launch was United Launch Alliance’s 30th mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.