Air Force Certifies SpaceX Falcon-9 v1.1 as Having Flown Three Successful Flights, Paves Way for Full Certification by End of 2014

By Mike Killian, on July 13th, 2014

The SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket, seen here launching Thaicom-6 last January, is now certified by the U.S. Air Force to launch Government payloads. Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / John Studwell

Hawthorne, Calif.-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is now one more step closer to earning full certification of its Falcon-9 v1.1 rocket to launch […]

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Government Requests Court Dismiss SpaceX Lawsuit Over Air Force's 36-Rocket Block-Buy Deal With ULA

By Mike Killian, on July 3rd, 2014

A SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket (left) and a ULA Atlas-V (right). SpaceX is filing a lawsuit against the Federal Government for the right to compete for Department of Defense and other government launch contracts, which ULA currently has a monopoly over. Photo Credits: AmericaSpace / Alan Walters / Mike Killian

On June 30, 2014, […]

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ULA Investing in Development of Domestic Atlas-V Engine Alternative to Russian RD-180, First Flight Expected in 2019

By Mike Killian, on June 17th, 2014

A ULA Atlas-V rocket, under the power of a Russian RD-180 engine, launching NASA’s TDRS-L satellite. On June 16, 2014, ULA announced their intention to invest in the production of a U.S. domestic engine to replace the RD-180, with the first flight of the new engine expected to occur in 2019. Photo Credit: […]

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ULA Delivers Classified NRO Satellite to Orbit on Company's Second Launch in Less Than a Week

By Mike Killian, on May 22nd, 2014

A ULA Atlas-V rocket launching a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnassiance Office on May 22, 2014, from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Mission NROL-33. Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace

A classified top-secret satellite for the U.S. government made its way to space this morning, thundering atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas-V rocket […]

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On the Defensive: ULA Responds to SpaceX Lawsuit and Court Order Banning Purchase of Russian Engines

By Mike Killian, on May 3rd, 2014

A ULA Atlas-V rocket launching NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity rover on a 300-million-mile trip to land on the Red Planet. As of April 30, ULA is temporarily banned under court order from purchasing the Russian-made engine to power the rocket into space. Photo Credit: Mike Killian

It was just a week ago that […]

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SpaceX and United Launch Alliance Face-Off at Hearing for Military Launch Contracts

By Mike Killian, on March 6th, 2014

United Launch Alliance CEO Michael Gass (top left) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (bottom right) testified at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Wed., March 5, each outlining why their respective launch services are the best choice for the U.S. Government and tax-payer. Photo Credits: Committee on Appropriations […]

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Mysterious NROL-15 Launched On Secret Delta IV Heavy

By Craig Covault, on June 29th, 2012

The 235 ft. tall 840 ton Delta IV Heavy carrying the top secret 21 ton National Reconnaissance Office NROL-15 spacecraft roars off Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral on nearly 2.4 million lbs. thrust from its three uprated oxygen/hydrogen RS-68A engines. The U. S. Air Force and NRO especially upgraded these three […]

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Secret Satellite Data System Launched via Atlas V

By Craig Covault, on June 20th, 2012

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket thunders off of Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo Credit: ULA

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 carried what experienced analysts believe is a top secret Satellite Data System (SDS) relay spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit today, after […]

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