Tag: ULA
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U.S. debates Atlas V RD-180 engine ban, ULA’s non-bid for military launch
The U.S. Congress is debating the reinstatement of a purchasing ban on Russian RD-180 engines – the heart of the Atlas V core stage. Congress lifted that ban in December 2015. However, some Congressional members are questioning that decision as well as ULA’s decision to not bid for the 2018 competitive U.S. military GPS III-3 satellite…
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Cygnus returns to space via Atlas V launch
Orbital ATK’ Cygnus resupply spacecraft finally returned to flight on Sunday following weather scrubs over numerous recent attempts. Riding United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket uphill a year on from the loss of its previous mission atop Orbital’s own Antares rocket, liftoff from Cape Canaveral finally occurred at 16:44 Eastern on Sunday. Cygnus Return: Bound…
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Free CubeSat rideshares offered by ULA for Atlas V launches
United Launch Alliance (ULA) will begin adding a cubesat dispenser on to its Atlas V missions from 2017, allowing for the launch of up to 24 cubesats alongside its primary mission payload. In advertising the opportunities to cubesat companies, ULA has announced it will allow for several free rides for University payloads. ULA Rideshare: The cubesat market…
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Atlas V successfully launches GPS IIF-11
Making its third launch of the month, United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket has successfully deployed the penultimate Block IIF Global Positioning System satellite. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral – rescheduled for Saturday – occurred at the start of a nineteen-minute window that opened at 12:13 EDT (16:13 UTC). Atlas V Launch: The launch will deployed…
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NROL-55 takes a ride uphill on ULA Atlas V
Making its second flight in less than a week, United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket has successfully deployed a National Reconnaissance Office primary payload (NROL-55) – and a host of smaller satellites – Thursday following a pre-dawn liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Liftoff was on schedule at 05:49 Pacific Daylight Time (12:49 UTC). Atlas…
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ULA marks 100th mission – Atlas V launches with Morelos-3
United Launch Alliance has conducted its hundredth launch Friday with a rare commercial mission on behalf of Lockheed Martin to deploy Mexico’s Morelos-3 spacecraft. The launch, which made use of an Atlas V rocket flying out of Cape Canaveral, launched at the end a twenty-minute window that opened at 06:28 local time (10:28 UTC). Atlas…
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ULA Atlas V launches with fourth MUOS spacecraft
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully deployed the US Navy’s fourth MUOS satellite on Wednesday, with an Atlas V carrying the communications spacecraft into a geostationary transfer orbit. Launch, from Space Launch Complex -41 (SLC-41) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, occurred at 10:18 UTC – inside a 44 minute window. MUOS-4: The US…
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ULA utilizing OVI to reduce vehicle integration timeline
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has completed its first processing flow utilizing Off-site Vertical Integration (OVI) ahead of the upcoming Atlas V/MUOS-4 mission. The process involves several structural elements – and the Centaur upper stage – being integrated at the indoor Delta Operations Center (DOC) – as opposed to at the pad – potentially shaving a…
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RUAG to establish composites production capability at ULA
Swiss company RUAG will be setting up base at United Launch Alliance’s Decatur facility in Alabama, following a deal to further strengthen their cooperation. RUAG are best known for their production of payload fairings for a number of launch vehicles. However, the deal is also aimed at providing additional composite hardware specific to ULA’s Vulcan…
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ULA Delta IV successfully lofts WGS-7
Flying with an upgraded first stage, United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV rocket has successfully deployed the seventh Wideband Global Satcom communications satellite on Thursday. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station occurred at 20:07 local time on Thursday – following the weather-related postponement of Wednesday’s opportunity. Delta IV Launch: The launch, which was the thirtieth for…