![]() | |
![]() Atlas V 551 launch withJuno spacecraft | |
Company type | Joint venture |
---|---|
Industry | Space |
Founded | December 1, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-12-01) |
Headquarters | Centennial, Colorado, United States |
Key people | Tory Bruno (CEO) |
Products |
|
Revenue | US$1.3 billion (2022)[1] |
US$200 million (2022)[1] | |
Owner | Lockheed Martin Space (50%) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (50%) |
Number of employees | 2,700 (2024) |
Website | ulalaunch |
United Launch Alliance, LLC (ULA) is an Americanlaunch service provider formed in December 2006 as a joint venture betweenLockheed Martin Space andBoeing Defense, Space & Security. The company designs, assembles, sells and launches rockets, but the company subcontracts out the production ofrocket engines andsolid rocket boosters.
When founded, the company inherited theAtlas rocket family from Lockheed Martin and theDelta rocket family from Boeing. As of 2024, the Delta family has been retired and the Atlas V is in the process of being retired. ULA began development of theVulcan Centaur in 2014 as replacement for both the Atlas and Delta rocket families. The Vulcan Centaur completed its maiden flight in January 2024.
The primary customers of ULA are theDepartment of Defense (DoD) andNASA, but it also serves commercial clients.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin announced on 2 May 2005 that they would establish a 50/50joint venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), to consolidate their space launch operations.[2]
The two companies had long competed for launch services contracts from the DoD, and their Atlas and Delta rockets were the two launch vehicles selected under theEvolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The DoD had hoped the program would foster the creation of a strong, competitive commercial launch market. However, both companies said that this competition had made space launches unprofitable.[3] Boeing's future in the program was also threatened in 2003 when it was found to be in possession of proprietary documents from Lockheed Martin.[4][5] To endlitigation and competition, both companies agreed to form the ULA joint venture. During the renewal of the EELV contract, the DoD said the merger would provide annual cost savings of $100–150 million.[6]
SpaceX attempted to challenge the merger on anti-trust grounds, saying it would create a space launch monopoly.[7] TheFederal Trade Commission ultimately granted ULA anti-trust clearance, prioritizing national security access to space over potential competition concerns.[8][9]
Michael Gass was announced as the first CEO of ULA and oversaw the merger of the two groups. Production was consolidated into one central plant inDecatur, Alabama while all engineering was moved into a facility inLittleton, Colorado.[10] The parent companies retained responsibility for marketing and sales of the Delta and Atlas rockets.
Cost pressures led ULA to announce it would lay off 350 of its 4,200 workers in early 2009,[11][12] and decommissioned two of its sevenlaunch pads.[6][13] ULA also joined and later left theCommercial Spaceflight Federation during this period.[14][15]
The introduction of lower-cost competition and rising ULA launch costs attracted scrutiny. ULA's reliance on government funding for launch readiness, including maintaining multiple launchpads and rocket variants, became a point of discussion, particularly as the EELV program experienced acost breach in 2012.[4]
ULA was awarded a DoD contract in December 2013 to provide 36 rocket cores for up to 28 launches. The award drew protest from SpaceX, which said the cost of ULA's launches were approximately US$460 million each and proposed a price of US$90 million to provide similar launches.[16] In response, Gass said ULA's average launch price was US$225 million, with future launches as low as US$100 million.[17]
In August 2014,Tory Bruno became CEO of ULA.[18] Bruno's appointment came as ULA faced pressure to develop a next-generation launch vehicle and reduce costs to better compete with SpaceX and its partially reusable rockets. The company's high launch costs left it with few commercial and civil satellite customers, making it increasingly reliant on U.S. military and intelligence contracts, which were also under competitive threat from SpaceX.[19][20][21] Additionally, ULA faced pressure to replace its Russian-made RD-180 engines with Western alternatives following theRussian annexation of Crimea. In 2016, Congress passed a law prohibiting the military from procuring launch services using the RD-180 after 2022.[20][22]
To reduce costs, ULA underwent major restructuring, cutting its workforce from 3,600 to 2,500 by 2018[21][23] and consolidating operations from five launch pads to two.[24] To develop a replacement engine, ULA partnered withBlue Origin on theBE-4, which became the core of its next-generationVulcan Centaur rocket.[25] Vulcan was designed to lower costs and increase competitiveness in the commercial market, combining technologies from the Delta and Atlas families with new innovations.[21]
Despite these efforts, ULA's services remained more expensive than SpaceX's.[21] Its joint bid withDynetics for a NASA lunar lander was rejected in 2021 as "low in readiness."[26] TheDelta rocket family was retired in 2024. While the vehicle supported critical national security and NASA missions, it was expensive and slow to manufacture, limiting its commercial viability.[27] TheFalcon Heavy effectively captured its commercial market share.[3] ULA stockpiled approximately 100 RD-180 engines for the Atlas V to fulfill remaining contracts, with no new orders planned.
In 2022, Amazon selected ULA as one of its launch providers forProject Kuiper, asatellite internet constellation, awarding 9 launches on Atlas V and 38 on Vulcan Centaur, out of 83 total launches, marking ULA’s largest-ever commercial contract.[28]
By late 2023, Boeing and Lockheed Martin were seeking to sell ULA, with potential buyers including Blue Origin,[29] Cerberus Capital Management, and Textron.[30] Reports in mid-2024 indicated Sierra Space was in advanced talks to acquire ULA.[31][32] As of 2025, however, the company had not been sold.
In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded ULA a $5.3 billion contract for 19 missions as part of a multibillion-dollar procurement covering approximately 80 national security launches between 2025 and 2034. SpaceX received the majority of missions (28), while Blue Origin was awarded seven.[33]
When the joint venture was founded in 2006, ULA inherited theAtlas rocket family from Lockheed Martin and theDelta rocket family from Boeing. As of 2024, the Delta family has been retired and the Atlas V is in the process of being retired. ULA began development of the Vulcan Centaur in 2014 as replacement for both the Atlas and Delta rocket families.[34]
The Vulcan Centaur is aheavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ULA integrating technology from both its prior Atlas and Delta rocket families along with advancements. Vulcan has been designed to meet the requirements of theNational Security Space Launch (NSSL) program and be capable of achievinghuman-rating certification to allow the launch of a vehicle such as theBoeing Starliner orSierra Nevada Dream Chaser.[35]
The rocket was developed as ULA faced pressure to respond to growing competition fromSpaceX[36] and its reusable rockets and the need to phase out theRD-180 engine used on the Atlas V, which is built in Russia, and subject tointernational sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[37]
The Vulcan Centaur has a maximum liftoff thrust of 3,800,000 pounds-force (17,000 kN), enabling it to carry 56,000 pounds (25,000 kg) tolow Earth orbit, 33,000 lb (15,000 kg) to ageostationary transfer orbit, and 16,000 lb (7,300 kg) togeostationary orbit.[38]
The Vulcan first stage is the same size as the Delta family'sCommon Booster Core, uses twoBE-4 engines built byBlue Origin and fueled byliquid oxygen andliquid methane (liquefied natural gas).[39] The second stage is theCentaur V, an improved version of the Centaur III used on the Atlas, which is powered by twoRL10 engines built byAerojet Rocketdyne, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The first stage can be supplemented by up to sixGEM 63XL solid rocket boosters built byNorthrop Grumman.
ULA is investigating a way topartially reuse its launch vehicles with the Sensible Modular Autonomous Return Technology (SMART) system. This system envisions jettisoning the BE-4 engines andavionics as a single unit which would be protected by an inflatable heat shield during its descent back to Earth. After being slowed by parachutes and splashing down in the ocean, the heat shield would double as a raft, and the engines and avionics module would be retrieved for refurbishment. ULA estimates that this approach could reduce the cost of producing the first stage of its rockets by 65%.[40]
Development of the Vulcan Centaur has been funded as apublic–private partnership with the U.S. government contributing approximately US$1.2 billion toward initial development costs.[41] Boeing and Lockheed Martin are expected to contribute the remaining cost of development, estimated at 75% of the cost, as of March 2018.[42][43]
In October 2018, the NSSL program purchased a prototype Vulcan mission to be launched in 2019.[41] In August 2020 ULA was awarded a contract to launch 60% of NSSL missions over a 5-year period beginning in 2022.[44] However, Vulcan Centaur was delayed repeatedly. The inaugural flight occurred on January 8, 2024,[34] successfully sending thePeregrine lunar lander into orbit toward the moon.[45][46] This launch was intended to allow Astrobotic Technology to conduct five lunar experiments for NASA.[46]
ULA completed a second test flight, named Cert-2, of the Vulcan Centaur on the morning of October 4, 2024 at Cape Canaveral. The Space Force will examine the flight data to determine if Vulcan Centaur will be certified for national security missions.[47]
Developed by Lockheed Martin and transitioned to ULA in 2006,[48] the Atlas V has been ULA's primary launch vehicle for over two decades. However, the rocket is currently nearing retirement, with all remaining flights booked and no new orders accepted. As of July 2024, Atlas V has completed 101 missions,[49] with15 launches scheduled.[50] The rocket has been offered ineleven configurations, though only the "551" and "N22" remain operational.
Born from theNational Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, the Atlas V's first successful launch took place in 2002.[51] This expendable launch system utilizes a two-stage design. The first stage, named theCommon Core Booster, uses a single Russian-madeRD-180 engine, fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen.[52] The second stage, aCentaur III powered by theRL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The first stage can be supplemented by up to fiveAJ-60A orGEM 63 solid rocket boosters.
The Atlas V has undergone modifications for human spaceflight, specifically for Boeing'sStarliner capsule. These modifications include upgraded computers for monitoring and abort capabilities, data links, and manual abort mechanisms for the crew. Notably, Starliner missions use a unique Atlas V configuration: two solid rocket boosters, no payload fairing, and a dual-engine Centaur second stage for a shallower launch profile and reduced crew G-forces. This configuration stands 172 feet tall, and ULA was contracted for nine Starliner missions with Atlas V.[53]
The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) provides the second stage boost for the initial configuration (Block 1) of NASA'sSpace Launch System (SLS). The ICPS design was based on theDelta Cryogenic Second Stage employed by ULA's Delta launch vehicles. The ICPS is positioned atop the SLS core stage and directly below theOrion spacecraft.[54] The ICPS has a cylindrical liquid hydrogen tank, structurally designed to bear launch loads, while the liquid oxygen and singleRL10B-2 engine are suspended from the hydrogen tank and are covered by the interstage during launch.[55] Only three ICPS stages were ever built, one for each of theArtemis I,II, andIII missions. Following these missions, the ICPS will be replaced by theExploration Upper Stage built by Boeing.
Delta II was an expendable launch system that was originally designed and built byMcDonnell Douglas,[56] and was later built by Boeing prior to the formation of ULA. Delta II was part of theDelta rocket family and entered service in 1989. ULA flew thirty missions using Delta II starting in 2006. Delta II vehicles included the Delta 6000 and the two later Delta 7000 variants ("Light" and "Heavy"). The rocket flew its final missionICESat-2 on 15 September 2018.[57][58] A nearly-complete Delta II, made from flight-qualified spare parts, is displayed in its 7320-10 configuration in therocket garden atKennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.[59][60]
Delta IV is a group of five expendable launch systems in theDelta rocket family, which was introduced in the early 2000s.[61][62] The Delta IV was originally designed by Boeing'sDefense, Space & Security division for theEvolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, and became a ULA product in 2006. The Delta IV was mostly used for launchingUnited States Air Force military payloads but was also used to launch a number of U.S. government non-military payloads and one commercial satellite.[63][57][64] Delta IV had two main versions, which allowed the family to accommodate a range of payload sizes and masses; models includes Medium, which had four configurations, and theHeavy. Payloads that would previously fly on Medium moved to eitherAtlas V orVulcan Centaur.[65][66]
Delta IV Heavy was the largest member of the Delta IV family. Boeing flew it on one mission prior to the formation of ULA, and ULA on fifteen missions from 2007 to 2024. Its final launch was April 9, 2024 atCape Canaveral Space Force Station.[67][68][69] The Delta IV Heavy combined a 5 m (16 ft) diameter DCSS and payload fairing with two additional CBCs. These are strap-on boosters which areseparated earlier in the flight than the center CBC. The 5 meter diameter composite fairing was standard on the Delta IV Heavy,[70] with analuminumisogrid fairing also available. The aluminum trisector (three-part) fairing was built byBoeing and derived from aTitan IV fairing.[71] The trisector fairing was first used on theDSP-23 flight.[72] Delta IV Heavy had 16 launches in its lifetime.[67][73][74]
Statistics are up-to-date as of 28 April 2025[update].
The first launch conducted by ULA was a Delta II fromVandenberg Space Force Base on 14 December 2006,[75] carrying the satelliteUSA-193 for theNational Reconnaissance Office.[76][77][78][79] The satellite failed shortly after launch and was intentionally destroyed on 21 February 2008, by an SM-3 missile that was fired from theTiconderoga-classcruiserUSS Lake Erie.[76] ULA's firstAtlas V launch was in March 2007; it was an Atlas V variant 401 launching six military research satellites forSpace Test Program (STP) 1. This mission also performed three burns of theCentaur upper stage; it was the first three-burn mission for Atlas V.
ULA's first commercial missionCOSMO-SkyMed was launched on behalf of Italy'sMinistry of Defense three months later using a Delta II rocket.[77] On June 15, 2007, the engine in the Centaur upper stage of a ULA-launched Atlas V shut down early, leaving its payload – a pair ofNROL-30ocean surveillance satellites – in a lower than intended orbit.[80] The NRO declared the launch a success.[81]
2007 also saw ULA's first two interplanetary spacecraft launches using the Delta II; thePhoenix probe was launched toMars in August 2007 and theDawn satellite to was launched to the asteroidsVesta andCeres in September 2007.[82][83] Using a Delta II, theWorldView-1 satellite was also launched into alow Earth orbit on behalf ofDigitalGlobe. The company's first launch togeostationary transfer orbit using an Atlas V 421 variant carrying theUSA-195 (orWGS-1) communications satellite also occurred that year.[77][84] ULA's tenth mission was launching satelliteGPS IIR-17 intomedium Earth orbit on a Delta II.[77] The company completed its first Delta IV launch using the Delta IV Heavy rocket to place a payload intogeosynchronous orbit in November 2007, which was followed by three more launches in December 2007.[77]
2008 saw seven launches, including Atlas V's from Vandenberg'sSpace Launch Complex 3E and five others using the Delta II.[77] The Atlas launch carriedNROL-28 in March 2008[85] and in September 2008 theGeoEye-1 satellite was orbited by a Delta II rocket.[86] ULA completed eight Delta II, five Atlas V, and three Delta IV launches in 2009.[77] The Delta II launches carried threeSpace Tracking and Surveillance System satellites over two launches, twoGlobal Positioning System satellites,[87] and theNOAA-19 andWorldView-2 satellites,[88][89] as well as theKepler and theWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer space telescopes.[77][90]
The Atlas launches carried theLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter andLCROSS mission as part of theLunar Precursor Robotic Program, which was later intentionally crashed into theMoon and found the existence of water;[91] other 2009 Atlas V launches in includedIntelsat 14,WGS-2,[84]PAN, and aweather satellite as part of theDefense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The Delta IV rockets carried theNROL-26,GOES 14,[92] andWGS-3 satellites.[84][77]
In 2010, Atlas V launches deployed theSolar Dynamics Observatory, the firstBoeing X-37B, the firstAdvanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite, and theNROL-41. The Delta II system placed the lastCOSMO-SkyMed and Delta IV launches deployed theGOES 15,GPS Block IIF, andUSA-223 satellites.[77][93] ULA completed eleven launches in 2011, including five by Atlas, three by Delta II, and three by Delta IV. The Atlas system orbited another Boeing X-37, twoNROL-34signals intelligence satellites,[94] aSpace-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite, theJuno spacecraft andCuriosity rover.[77][95] The Delta II launches placed theSAC-D andSuomi NPP satellites into orbit,[96] as well as two spacecraft associated with NASA'sGRAIL lunar mission. Delta IV launches carried theNROL-49,NROL-27,[97] and another GPS satellite.[77]
ULA's 2012 launches included six Atlas Vs and four Delta IVs. The Atlas system carriedMobile User Objective System (MUOS) and AEHF satellites, another Boeing X-37, the Intruder and Quasar satellites, and theVan Allen Probes. Delta IVs deployed GPS and WGS satellitesUSA-233,[98][99] as well asNROL-25[100] and NROL-15 on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office.[77][101]
In 2013, the Atlas flew eight times.[102] The system launched theTDRS-11,[103]Landsat 8,AEHF-3, andNROL-39 satellites, as well as SBIRS, GPS, and MUOS satellites, as well as NASA'sMAVEN space probe to Mars. Delta IV launches orbited the fifth and sixthWideband Global SATCOM satellitesWGS-5 andWGS-6,[104] as well asNROL-65.[77][98][105]
In 2014, ULA's Atlas V orbited theTDRS-12 communications satellite in January,[106] theWorldView-3 commercial satellite in August 2014,[107][108] and the CLIO communications satellite during September and October 2014.[85] Atlas rockets also carried the satellites DMSP-5D-3/F19, NROL-67, NROL-33, and NROL-35.[85] Delta IV rockets orbited GPS satellites and twoGeosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites, and in July 2014, NASA'sOrbiting Carbon Observatory 2 was carried by a Delta II.[85]Orion's first test flight was launched by a Delta IV Heavy rocket in December 2014, as part ofExploration Flight Test-1.[109]
A Delta II rocket orbited aSoil Moisture Active Passive satellite in January 2015.[110] In March 2015, an Atlas V rocket carried NASA'sMagnetospheric Multiscale Mission spacecraft,[111][112] and a Delta IV rocket orbited theGPS IIF-9 satellite on behalf of the U.S. Air Force.[113][114] The U.S. Air Force'sX-37B spaceplane was carried by an Atlas V rocket in May 2015,[115] and a Delta IV orbited theWGS-7 satellite in July 2015.[116] The fourth MUOS satellite was orbited by an Atlas V in September 2015.[117][118] ULA's 100th consecutive successful liftoff was completed on 2 October 2015, when an Atlas V rocket orbited aMexican Satellite System communications satellite on behalf of theSecretariat of Communications and Transportation.[109] The classifiedNROL-55 satellite was launched by an Atlas V rocket several days later.[119] Atlas V rockets launchedGPS Block IIF satellites and theCygnus cargo spacecraft in November 2015 and December 2015, respectively.[120][121][122]
In 2016, Delta IV rockets carried theNROL-45 satellite andAir Force Space Command 6 mission in February 2016 and August 2016, respectively.[123][124] During a launch of theAtlas V rocket on 22 March 2016, a minor first-stage anomaly led to shutdown of the first-stage engine approximately five seconds before anticipated. The Centaur upper stage was able to compensate by firing for approximately one minute longer than planned using its reserved fuel margin.[125][126] Atlas V rockets carriedMUOS-5 in June 2016,[127][128]NROL-61 satellites in July 2016,[129][130] and theOSIRIS-REx spacecraft in September 2016.[131]
ULA launched multiple satellites in late 2016. The weather satelliteGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) was carried in November 2016,[132][133] as was theWorldView-4 imaging satellite.[134] In December 2016, the Wideband Global SATCOM's eighth satelliteWGS-8 was launched on a Delta IV Medium rocket,[133][135] and an Atlas V carried theEchoStar XIX communications satellite on behalf ofHughes Communications.[136][137] In March 2017,WGS-9 was orbited by a Delta IV.[84][138] Atlas V rockets carried NRO satellites,[139][140][141]TDRS-M,[142] and aCygnus cargo capsule in 2017.[143] The weather satelliteNOAA-20 (JPSS-1) was launched by a Delta II rocket in November 2017.[89][144]
An Atlas V carried theSBIRS-GEO 4 military satellite in January 2018.[145] The Atlas V's launch ofNASA'sInSight toMars in 2018 was the first interplanetary probe to depart from the U.S. West Coast.[82] In August 2018, a Delta IV Heavy launchedParker Solar Probe, NASA's solar space probe that was to visit and study theSun's outercorona in August 2018.[146] It was also the Delta IV Heavy with aStar-48BV kick stage,[147] and the highest-ever spacecraft velocity.[148] The company launched the final Delta II rocket, carryingICESat-2 from Vandenberg Air Force BaseSLC-2 on 15 September 2018. This marks the last launch of a Delta family rocket based on the originalThorIRBM.[58] On 22 August 2019, ULA launched its last Delta IV Medium rocket for the GPS III Magellan project.[149] An Atlas V carried Boeing's Starliner Orbital Flight Test (OFT) mission for NASA in December 2019.[150]
In 2020, an Atlas V carried theSolar Orbiter spacecraft, an international collaboration between theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) and NASA to provide a new global view of the Sun.[151] In March 2020, an Atlas V also launchedAdvanced Extremely High Frequency 6 (AEHF-6), the first U.S. Space Force National Security Mission.[152][153] In May 2020, ULA launched an Atlas V rocket carrying the USSF-7 mission with the X-37Bspaceplane for the U.S Space Force and the mission honored victims of theCOVID-19 pandemic as well asfirst responders,health professionals, military personnel, and otheressential workers.[154] On 30 July 2020, Atlas V in the 541 configuration successfully launchedPerseverance andIngenuity as part ofMars 2020 towards Mars.[155] In November 2020, ULA launched NROL-101, a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, on board their Atlas V in a 531 configuration. This launch was notable because it was the first flight of the GEM-63 solid rocket boosters, a version of which will be used on theirVulcan Centaur launch vehicle.[156]
On 18 May 2021, the SBIRS GEO 5 missile-warning satellite was launched on an Atlas V 421 rocket.[157][158][159]
The Lucy spaceflight began on 16 October 2021 upon launch aboard a United Launch AllianceAtlas V 401 rocket[160] into a stableparking orbit. During the next hour, the second stage reignited to place Lucy on aninterplanetary trajectory in aheliocentric orbit on a twelve-year mission to two groups of Sun-JupiterLagrange pointTrojan asteroids as well as a close flyby of a mainbelt asteroid during one of three planned passes through theasteroid belt. If the spacecraft remains operational during the 12-year planned duration, it is likely the controlled flight will be continued and directed at additional asteroid targets.[161]
As of June 2024[update], ULA operates two launch facilities:Space Launch Complex 41 at theCape Canaveral Space Force Station inCape Canaveral, Florida[162][163] andSpace Launch Complex 3 at theVandenberg Space Force Base nearLompoc, California.[164][165] The Cape Canaveral facility is equipped with a crew access arm for loading manned vehicles. Launches from Cape Canaveral typically head east to give satellites extra momentum from the rotation of the Earth as they head to other planets or into anequatorial orbit. Vandenberg is the primary U.S. launch site from which imaging and weather satellites are sent intopolar orbits to cover the entire globe.[166]
Since its foundation in 2006, ULA has significantly reduced its number of launch facilities from seven to the current two. At Cape Canaveral it previously operated two pads atSpace Launch Complex 17 and one pad atSpace Launch Complex 37 for Delta launches.[84][167] At Vandenburg, it previously operated one pad atSpace Launch Complex 2[168] and another atSpace Launch Complex 6 for Delta launches.[169][170]
ULA's headquarters inCentennial, Colorado is responsible for program management, rocket engineering, testing, and launch support functions.[171] ULA's largest factory is 1.6 million square feet (150,000 m2) and located inDecatur, Alabama.[172] In 2015, the company announced the opening of an engineering and propulsion test center inPueblo, Colorado.[173]
Until 2024, the company previously operated a factory inHarlingen, Texas to fabricate and assemble components for the Atlas V rocket.[174]
The Spaceflight Processing Operations Center (SPOC), located near Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 is used to construct themobile launcher platform (MLP) for the Vulcan Centaur. It also serves as a storage area for the Atlas V MLP.[175] On 6 August 2019, the first two parts of Vulcan's MLP were transported to the SPOC.[176] SPOC was formerly known as the Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness Facility (SMARF) during its support of theTitan IVB launch vehicle; it was renamed during a ceremony in October 2019.[175]
Centaur 3 (which flies on the Atlas V rocket) is 3.8 meters in diameter. The very first Centaur we fly on Vulcan will go straight to 5.4 meters in diameter.
Launched by a Delta II rocket in August 2007, Phoenix touched down on Mars on 25 May 2008.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft launched atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket on 27 September 2007.
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket has launched with the NASANOAA-N Prime spacecraft at the third attempt to launch from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California – at 02:22 a.m. PST – following two scrubs due to technical issues.
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket, carrying the GOES-O weather satellite for the United StatesNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has launched on Saturday, following Friday's scrub due to unacceptable weather.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV vehicle has launched the classified NROL-32 payload for the United States National Reconnaissance Office fromSpace Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral, at 17:58 EST.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) have launched their Atlas V carrying NASA's Juno probe on its way to Jupiter on Friday.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have launched their Delta II rocket to loft the SAC-D spacecraft into orbit for the Argentine space agency, CONAE, on Friday.
United Launch Alliance have conducted the United States' first orbital launch of the year on Thursday, when their Delta IV launched with the fourth Wideband Global Satcom spacecraft.
A new Delta IV configuration has made its first flight Tuesday, carrying the NROL-25 payload for the United States National Reconnaissance Office.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket has made its twentieth launch Friday morning from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying the classified NROL-15 payload for the United States National Reconnaissance Office.
United Launch Alliance successfully conducted their first mission of 2014 Thursday evening, with an Atlas V deploying NASA's latest Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-L.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) conducted a commercial Atlas V launch on Wednesday on behalf of Lockheed Martin, orbiting DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 imaging satellite.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket – interrupted by a wildfire – finally conducted a rare commercial launch on Friday, tasked with orbiting the WorldView-4 Earth-imaging satellite in a mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has launched a Delta IV rocket on Wednesday evening, carrying the eighth satellite in the U.S. Air Force's Wideband Global Satcom system.
United Launch Alliance launched its last Atlas V rocket of 2016 Sunday, deploying the EchoStar XIX commercial communications satellite for Hughes Netwebsite Systems.
United Launch Alliance's Atlas V has launched on her seventy-fifth flight, lofting the SBIRS GEO-4, a missile early warning satellite.