Tag: ULA
-
Amazon picks the rocket that’ll launch the first Kuiper satellites — and it’s not from Blue Origin
An illustration shows an Atlas V rocket launching Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites. (ULA / Amazon) United Launch Alliance says it’s struck a deal for a series of nine launches of its Atlas V rocket to send satellites into low Earth orbit for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband internet constellation. Amazon emphasized that this is just the…
-
ULA Delta IV Heavy successfully launches NROL-44
United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket successfully launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload, codenamed NROL-44 at 20:09 EST on Thursday, 10 December (01:09 UTC on Friday, 12 December). The flight marked the first Delta IV mission since the Medium+ variant retired in August 2019 and the first Delta IV Heavy since January…
-
Atlas V successfully launches NROL-101
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office satellite to orbit Friday in a launch that marked a major milestone for the next-generation Vulcan rocket as Atlas V debuted the new GEM-63 solid rocket boosters from Northrop Grumman — the start of a switch away from the Aerojet Rocketdyne boosters. Liftoff is…
-
ULA updates Vulcan status, readiness for certification missions
Development and flight qualification for United Launch Alliance’s new rocket, Vulcan, remains on track and on schedule (with margin) to make its debut flights next year, as do all ground support facilities and flight software elements for the heavy-lift vehicle. Vulcan’s first two flights, certification missions to clear the rocket to fly category A/B national…
-
ULA updates Vulcan status, readiness for certification missions
Development and flight qualification for United Launch Alliance’s new rocket, Vulcan, remains on track and on schedule (with margin) to make its debut flights next year, as do all ground support facilities and flight software elements for the heavy-lift vehicle. Vulcan’s first two flights, certification missions to clear the rocket to fly category A/B national…
-
Despite winning contract, SpaceX sticks with lawsuit against feds and rocket rivals
An automated camera documents the Falcon Heavy rocket’s first ascent from Kennedy Space Center in February 2018 with SpaceX’s hangar in the foreground. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota) Update: A federal district judge in California ruled against SpaceX and ordered its case against the Air Force to be vacated. The order was issued under seal…
-
Payload stacked for NROL-44; ULA, SpaceX win NSSL awards
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) Delta IV Heavy rocket has received its clandestine payload for the upcoming NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office as teams continue launch preparations on SLC-37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The mission is set to launch at the end of August and comes as ULA wins 60%…
-
ULA and SpaceX win shares of future national security launches; Blue Origin loses out
The U.S. Space Force has given its stamp of approval to United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, shown in the artist’s conception at left; and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, shown at right. (ULA Illustration for Vulcan / GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota for Falcon Heavy) The U.S. Space Force designated United Launch Alliance and SpaceX as…
-
Perseverance, Ingenuity begin seven month journey to Mars
United Launch Alliance has launched NASA’s latest mission to Mars: the Perseverance rover and accompanying Ingenuity helicopter. Liftoff of the third of our world’s three missions to Mars during the current interplanetary transfer window occurred Thursday, 30 July 2020 at the start of a two hour launch window that opens at 07:50 EDT. Mission history…
-
NASA and Boeing Complete Starliner Orbital Flight Test Investigation
A joint NASA and Boeing team has completed their “high visibility close call” review into anomalies experienced during the Orbital Flight Test (OFT) mission. Boeing is now in the process of implementing fixes and upgrades for the Starliner spacecraft in preparation for a second OFT, a crewed flight test (CFT), and operational crew transport missions.…