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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United Launch Alliance provides the Atlas V rocket that will launch the CST-100 Starliner.
WGS-10 was launched on 2019-03-15 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium rocket.
Blue Origin argued that awarding Phase 2 contracts in 2020 would favor ULA and SpaceX because those companies already have certified vehicles and launch infrastructure.
The Air Force signed cost-sharing agreements in October 2018 with Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and United Launch Alliance to help pay for vehicle development and launch infrastructure.
ULA chose to start Vulcan Centaur as an expendable vehicle in order to transition from the Russian-built RD-180 to Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines as quickly as possible.
Vulcan Centaur uses an improved version of the Centaur upper stage currently used on ULA’s Atlas 5.
ULA’s reuse plan unveiled in 2015 involves using parafoils and helicopters to capture Vulcan’s first-stage engines midair.
ULA originally anticipated using Vulcan ACES to replace the Delta IV Heavy, which is scheduled to retire in 2023 or 2024.
As recently as 2018, ULA planned to replace Centaur with ACES, the Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage, in 2023.
United Launch Alliance is preparing to launch the Vulcan Centaur in 2021.
The Orbital Flight Test of Boeing’s Starliner is scheduled to launch 2019-12-17 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral.
SNC planned to fly Dream Chaser to Florida for final preparations for a first mission slated to launch no earlier than September 2021 on one of the first flights of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
The Air Force plans to launch the sixth X-37B mission from Cape Canaveral in 2020 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
United Launch Alliance raised concerns about sharing SLC-6 and sought to protect sensitive equipment used to assemble and launch classified satellites from competitor exposure.
United Launch Alliance will continue to use SLC-6 as long as the Delta 4 Heavy is in operation, which will be at least until 2024.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries could use a single H3-derived rocket with three first-stage boosters strapped together, analogous to United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy or SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, to launch to the lunar Gateway or deliver landers directly to lunar orbit.
Astrobotic plans to launch the Peregrine lander on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur in 2021.
United Launch Alliance is developing the Vulcan Centaur rocket and is offering it to the U.S. Air Force in its proposal for the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement.
The U.S. Air Force awarded United Launch Alliance a five-year $1,180,000,000 contract on 2019-09-30 to complete the last planned five Delta IV Heavy National Reconnaissance Office missions from 2020 through 2024.
United Launch Alliance expects Vulcan Centaur to be certified for Category A/B missions in 2021 after the vehicle completes two successful flights.