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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A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37 on 2020-12-10 at 8:09 p.m. EST.
To date, United Launch Alliance has launched 142 times with 100 percent mission success.
United Launch Alliance’s next launch after NROL-44 is the STP-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force, scheduled for first quarter 2021 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
United Launch Alliance has successfully delivered more than 140 missions to orbit that support meteorology, planetary science, military capabilities, commercial services, and GPS navigation.
AEHF Space Vehicle 06 successfully launched on 2020-03-26 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 551 rocket under strict COVID-19 restrictions.
SBIRS GEO-5 is set to be launched in 2021 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
The geosynchronous satellite SBIRS GEO-5 is projected to launch in 2021 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.
SpaceX and United Launch Alliance were selected as U.S. national security launch providers based on their ability to deliver spacecraft to specific Earth orbits.
United Launch Alliance last performed a launch from Vandenberg in January 2019 when a Delta 4 Heavy launched a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
United Launch Alliance is under contract to fly NROL-44 and four additional Delta 4 Heavy missions for the National Reconnaissance Office over the next four years before the vehicle is retired.
United Launch Alliance is testing hardware and conducting a broad review of Delta 4 ground equipment at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Col. Robert Bongiovi expressed concern about the setbacks suffered by ULA’s Delta 4 Heavy in attempting to launch NROL-44.
United Launch Alliance and SpaceX were selected on 2020-08-07 as the Space Force’s primary launch providers for 2022 to 2027.
United Launch Alliance stated that the Dream Chaser delay will not prevent Vulcan Centaur from achieving certification in time for its first national security mission in 2022.
United Launch Alliance planned Vulcan Centaur’s second flight in 2021 to carry Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station.
On 2020-08-07, United Launch Alliance was awarded the first Phase 2 contract to launch two missions in fiscal year 2022, one in the second quarter and the other in the fourth quarter.
United Launch Alliance plans Vulcan Centaur’s first launch in 2021 to carry a lunar lander for Astrobotic.
The GEM 63 strap-on boosters were developed under a cooperative agreement between Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance to provide additional lift capability for the Atlas V launch vehicle.
The NROL-101 mission represented United Launch Alliance’s 29th mission launched for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Northrop Grumman has supplied rocket propulsion to United Launch Alliance and its heritage companies since 1964.