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United Launch Alliance (ULA)

US
commercialFounded 2006
United States
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

ESPA rings were originally developed to carry secondary payloads on Pentagon-funded Atlas V and Delta IV launches and have become a standard for accommodating small satellites on EELV-class and commercial launches such as United Launch Alliance vehicles and SpaceX Falcon 9.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 7, 2021NOAA to take first step toward a small satellite constellation

Volunteer interns from Ball Aerospace and K-12 students design and build payloads that launch on United Launch Alliance intern-built rockets.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 7, 2021Student Rocket Launch Event Sponsored By ULA + Ball Aerospace Upcoming…

United Launch Alliance selected K-12 student payloads to launch aboard three intern-built sport rockets at the 2021 Student Rocket Launch.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 7, 2021Student Rocket Launch Event Sponsored By ULA + Ball Aerospace Upcoming…

Since 2010, United Launch Alliance has invited K-12 student teams to design and build their own payloads to launch in the Student Rocket Launch program.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 7, 2021Student Rocket Launch Event Sponsored By ULA + Ball Aerospace Upcoming…

In 2018, United Launch Alliance introduced a payload competition for K-12 students to win prizes.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 7, 2021Student Rocket Launch Event Sponsored By ULA + Ball Aerospace Upcoming…

United Launch Alliance indicated that customer payload delays, rather than Vulcan technical issues, could delay the Peregrine launch into 2022.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJul 5, 2021Lunar Exploration as a Service: From landers to spacesuits, NASA is renting rather than owning

Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander had been scheduled to launch in late 2021 as the payload on the inaugural United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launch.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 23, 2021Masten delays first lunar lander mission

United Launch Alliance plans to launch Boeing’s Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 mission to the International Space Station on 2021-07-30 before resuming Atlas V flights with the older RL10 configuration.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 23, 2021ULA delays further use of enhanced upper-stage engine pending studies

United Launch Alliance delayed the first Vulcan Centaur launch to 2022 because of customer payload delays.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 23, 2021Masten delays first lunar lander mission

United Launch Alliance will not use the upgraded RL10 upper-stage engine with the carbon nozzle extension in upcoming Atlas V missions while it investigates vibrations observed during a 2021-05-18 flight.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 23, 2021ULA delays further use of enhanced upper-stage engine pending studies

United Launch Alliance delayed the Space Force STP-3 launch that had been scheduled for 2021-06-23 because the mission was planned to fly with the enhanced RL10 engine.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 23, 2021ULA delays further use of enhanced upper-stage engine pending studies

United Launch Alliance delayed the Space Test Program-3 mission on 2021-06-04 and indicated the delay was required to evaluate launch vehicle readiness.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 17, 2021NASA and Boeing close out recommendations from Starliner review

United Launch Alliance launched a GPS satellite in 2019 on the final flight of the Delta 4 Medium rocket before retiring that vehicle.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 15, 2021Upcoming SpaceX mission a reusability milestone for national security launch

SpaceX and United Launch Alliance were selected as the two launch providers for Phase 2 of the National Security Space Launch program for a five-year period from 2022 to 2027.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 15, 2021Upcoming SpaceX mission a reusability milestone for national security launch

The Department of Defense awarded United Launch Alliance and SpaceX five-year launch service contracts in August 2020 for approximately 34 launches from 2022 through 2027.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites

If United Launch Alliance cannot complete engine qualification before the 2021 flight certification, the program might continue to rely on ULA’s Atlas V to support 2022 launches despite a nearly $2,900,000,000 investment in Vulcan development.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Org RelationshipJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites

The BE-4 engine under development for ULA’s Vulcan rocket experienced technical challenges related to igniter and booster capabilities and may not be qualified in time to support first launches beginning in 2021.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites

Technical challenges in the development of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket could prevent the Department of Defense from ending its reliance on the Russian-made RD-180 engine by 2022 as required by Congress.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites

United Launch Alliance bid its new Vulcan rocket, which uses the domestically produced BE-4 engine made by Blue Origin, for the DoD launch contract.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites

The Department of Defense launched satellites on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, which uses the RD-180 engine to power its first stage, for decades.

Mentioned as: United Launch Alliance (ULA)Narrative GeneralJun 8, 2021GAO’s annual review of DoD programs raises concerns on space launch, missile warning satellites
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