Sun, Dec 05, 2010
Has Achieved Nearly One Launch Per Month Over The First
Four
As 2010 nears its end, United
Launch Alliance (ULA) is celebrating its fourth anniversary with 45
successful launches in the company's 48 months of operation. ULA
closed out 2010 in impressive fashion with the launch of the fourth
Delta IV Heavy in program history. The Nov. 21 launch capped a year
of 100 percent mission success, including the launch of four Atlas
V, one Delta II and three Delta IV rockets.
Among the 2010 payloads were several "firsts" for the Air Force
including the first next generation GPS satellite, the first
Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite and the first Orbital
Test Vehicle. Two launches each for NASA and the National
Reconnaissance Office and a commercial launch completed the
year.
In addition to eight launch successes in 2010, ULA also achieved
many other accomplishments this year, including:
- A $6.7 million contract award from NASA to participate in the
Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program for the development of
an Emergency Detection System (EDS), which is the final significant
element necessary for a safe and highly reliable human-rated launch
vehicle.
- The celebration of 50 years of launch for one of the most
successful rocket programs in U.S. history—the Delta program,
which began with its first launch May 13, 1960. The launch of the
350th Delta rocket also occurred in the program's 50th anniversary
year with the launch of COSMO-SkyMed 4 aboard a Delta II.
- The launch contract award for the first Block II and fourth
Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) satellite. The WGS system is the
first satellite constellation to launch on both the Atlas and Delta
vehicles since ULA's inception, demonstrating our operational
flexibility.
- Further support of NASA's Mars exploration programs with the
launch contract award for the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile
Evolution (MAVEN) mission.
- Participation in President Obama's Change the Equation (CTEq)
program, a CEO-led initiative to cultivate widespread literacy in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) across the
nation.
- The evaluation and implementation of slot manifesting
initiatives to enhance overall manifest scheduling responsiveness
in coordination with key customers.
- Membership with the Commercial Spaceflight Federation to
strengthen business relationships with ULA's existing commercial
partners including Bigelow Aerospace, Sierra Nevada Corporation,
Space Florida and XCOR Aerospace.
- The launch of the 25-foot tall, 240-pound "Future" high-power
rocket—the largest rocket ever launched from
Colorado—designed, built and launched by ULA interns.
- The presentation of the 2010 AIAA George M. Low Space
Transportation Award to ULA President and CEO Michael Gass for his
leadership in combining the Atlas V and Delta II and IV launch
vehicle programs while executing launches with 100 percent mission
success.
- An Aviation Week ranking as third best company for "Valuing the
Individual" in the publication's annual feature, "Where Aerospace
& Defense Professionals Want to Work."
- More than 24,000 donated volunteer hours and $150,000 to
non-profits across the country from ULA's matching time program,
and contributions totaling $659,000 in the company's annual United
Way campaign. Additionally, the company donated to more than 110
non-profits nationwide through the company's other corporate
citizenship programs.
ULA Delta Rocket Launch File Photo
"These accomplishments were no easy feat and are testament to
the hard work and dedication of our 3,700 employees with whom I am
privileged to work with every day at ULA," said Michael Gass, ULA
president and chief executive officer. "We strive to provide our
government and commercial customers with reliable access to space,
one launch at a time, and the combined expertise of everyone on the
ULA team is the reason for our sustained mission success. As we
celebrate our fourth anniversary, I am extremely proud of our
company's 45 successful launches to date and all that our team has
achieved in 2010. I look forward to making 2011 even better."
ULA will begin 2011 with another notable accomplishment as the
first-ever West Coast Delta IV Heavy is launched from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, CA, scheduled for Jan. 11, 2011. There are five
Atlas V, three Delta II and three additional Delta IV launches
currently planned for next year.
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