United Launch Alliance, a Colorado-based firm that builds rockets in Decatur, announced this weekend that it has been selected by the U.S. Space Force to handle 60 percent of the next round of rocket missions.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket, built by ULA, “is the right choice for critical national security space missions and was purpose built to meet all of the requirements of our nation’s space launch needs,” said Tory Bruno, president and CEO of ULA, which is a joint venture of long-time rocket experts Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
“For decades, we have been a trusted partner to safely and securely deliver strategic national security space assets for our nation’s defense,” Bruno added, “and this award shows the continued confidence of our customer in the commitment and dedication of our people to safeguard these missions by reliably launching our country’s most critical and challenging missions.”
The contract award covers missions ordered from 2020 through 2024 and taking place through 2027, for launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
“Our Atlas and Delta rockets have been the backbone of American space launch for decades and with Vulcan Centaur we continue to build on this progressive history of technology and advancement,” said Bruno. “Vulcan Centaur provides higher performance and greater affordability while continuing to deliver our unmatched reliability and orbital precision that will continue to provide reliable, on-time access to space well into the future.”
ULA has successfully launched 140 missions for purposes including communications, Earth observation, solar system studies and other technology.
