Cape Gets Six Of Nine Launches In $1.5B Pact

Six of nine critical national security missions to be launched by United Launch Alliance under a $1.5 billion Pentagon contract will blast off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the 2014 timeframe, the company said today.

The payloads launching from the Cape include:

++ AFSPC-4 on a Delta IV from Space Launch Complex 37.

++ The Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-3) on an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex 41.

++ National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-33 on an Atlas V at SLC-41.

++ National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-67 on an Atlas V from SLC-41.

++ GPS IIF-10 on a Delta IV from SLC-37.

++ Another GPS on Delta IV from SLC-37.

Payloads blasting off from Vandeberg Air Force Base in central California include:

++ Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP-19) on an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex 3.

++ National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) L-39 on an Atlas V from SLC-3.

++ Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP-20) on a Delta IV from Space Launch Complex 6.

"United Launch Alliance (ULA) is pleased to support the United States Government request in authorizing the launch services for nine critical national security satellites," the company said in a statement.

"This order represents a continuation of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch services support ULA has provided for the government over the last five years. Since its inception in December 2006, ULA has successfully launched 56 times including missions for national security, NASA and commercial customers. We remain committed to providing safe, reliable, cost-effective missions to support the warfighters throughout the world that defend our freedom."