ULA Wins USAF Launch Contract

United Launch Alliance has won a $95.7 million U.S. Air Force contract to launch a National Reconnaissance Office satellite on an Atlas V rocket.

This vehicle will launch in two to three years from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. ULA workers from Cape Canaveral will assist with the California launch.

"Any launch that comes to our company is good news to the people here," ULA spokesman Mike Rein said.

The NRO provides satellite reconnaissance for the intelligence community and the Department of Defense.



"The NRO provides a vital service to the war fighter ensuring our nation has the technology and space borne assets needed to acquire intelligence worldwide," said Ed Holtvluwer, ULA Atlas NRO program manager.

ULA's next launch, scheduled for Jan. 13, is a national security payload for the NRO aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 37 at the Cape.

The latest contract will not affect a February layoff, expected to reduce the 800 ULA workers at Cape Canaveral by 23. Nationwide, some 172 of about 4,200 ULA workers will be laid off, though buyouts and attrition could reduce that number.

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