UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE

United Launch Alliance will use an Atlas V 551 rocket to launch the fourth communications satellite in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) series for the U.S. Air Force. The launch is scheduled for 10/17. The window opens at 12:15 a.m. EDT. AEHF satellites provide highly-secure, jam-proof connectivity between U.S. national leadership and deployed military forces. Atlas V rockets successfully launched the first three AEHF satellites in 2010, 2012 and 2013 as the new constellation was formed in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth. This will be 131st mission for United Launch Alliance and our 50th launch for the Air Force. It is the 79th for an Atlas V rocket and the 9th in the 551 configuration.

Rocket's eye view of NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)-2 mission from ULA's Delta II rocket. Launched Sept. 15, 2018, ICESat-2 marked the Delta II's final mission, capping a 29-year run of 155 launches and 100 consecutive successful missions.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket carrying launch NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on Sept. 15, 2018. ICESat-2 is the 155th and final launch of the Delta II rocket. From its origin as the launch vehicle for the first Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to NASA’s Earth observing, science and interplanetary satellites including Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity to vital commercial communication and imaging satellites, the Delta II rocket has truly earned its place in space history.

A United Launch Alliance Delta II Heavy rocket will launch NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation-2 (ICESat-2) mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The ICESat-2 mission will be the final for the workhorse Delta II rocket, which has launched 154 times, including missions for the U.S. Air Force, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office and commercial customers. Go Delta! Go ICESat-2!

ULA challenged our employees to create a “film festival” earlier this year — to create videos around the theme “Explore the Universe.” Congratulations to Rick Jones, runner up for our first competition for this video “Explore.”

ULA challenged our employees to create a “film festival” earlier this year — to create videos around the theme “Explore the Universe.” Congratulations to Michael Traylor, who tied for first place with this video “Why do we Explore?”

ULA challenged our employees to create videos for a “film festival” earlier this year — to create videos around the theme “Explore the Universe.” Congratulations to Andrew Copperberg, who tied for first place with this video “Fly Interplanetary.”

It's time to reach higher, to solve tough national security problems, advance human spaceflight and pioneer a backbone for a new CisLunar economy. ULA is working to harness the potential of space for all of humanity.

LIftoff through separation of the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage from the booster.

ULA systems engineer Patrick Moore recently joined the Kerbal Space Academy to talk about the Parker Solar Probe mission and Delta IV Heavy rocket. Patrick provided realistic flight commentary as KSA instructor DasValdez launched his own “Deltish IV” rocket carrying a “Parker Sorta Probe”, built using stock parts in Kerbal Space Program. Kerbal Space Program footage and still images courtesy of Private Division and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.   Watch the full interview with Patrick and Das at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/285197065   Play KSP? You can download and fly the Deltish IV by visiting https://kerbalx.com/KSpaceAcademy/KSA-Parker-Sorta-Probe-+-Deltish-IV-Heavy

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission to the sun lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on Aug. 12, 2018. The mission is humanity’s first journey to the sun. Check out Dr. Eugene N. Parker watching the rocket set of on its journey to space.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe mission will be the 10th launch of the Delta IV Heavy configuration rocket, which is the only rocket currently flying with the capability of launching this mission.

ULA Systems Engineer Patrick Moore has been working on the Parker Solar Probe mission for the past three years, working with Northrop Grumman to integrate the third stage that will offer additional performance. You'll also hear Moore on launch day doing flight commentary after liftoff.

Rockey, ULA's mascot, makes his dream of launch come true with the help of some ULA interns.

ULA Trajectory Engineer Nick Driver on launching NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission atop ULA's Delta IV Heavy rocket. Usually used for large satellites, in this case the heavy lifter is being used to give a small spacecraft a high-energy delivery to the sun.

ULA's Atlas V rocket blasted off on May 5, 2018, with NASA's InSight mission to Mars. Here's what it looked like from the rocket's perspective.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s InSight mission to Mars lifts off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on May 5, 2018. The mission marks the first interplanetary launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The two-year InSight mission seeks to understand the evolutionary formation of rocky planets, including Earth, by investigating the interior structure and processes of Mars.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 401 rocket will launch the InSight mission to Mars for NASA. This will be the first interplanetary mission to launch from the U.S. West Coast.

Jen Krupp, ULA flight design engineer for the InSight mission to Mars, talks about working on the first interplanetary mission to launch from the West Coast of the U.S.

Drone footage taken as ULA's Atlas V 551 rocket prepares to launch the AFSPC-11 mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The mission launched on April 14, 2018.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the AFSPC-11 mission for the U.S. Air Force lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on April 14, 2018. AFSPC-11 is a multi-manifested mission. The forward spacecraft is referred to as CBAS (Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM) and the aft spacecraft is EAGLE (ESPA Augmented GEO Laboratory Experiment).

Watch as ULA's Atlas V rocket launches the AFSPC-11 for the U.S. Air Force.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket will launch the AFSPC-11 mission for the U.S. Air Force.

CisLunar - the space between Earth and the moon - holds vast opportunities for humans. Reliable, accessible, affordable access to space will help open economic opportunities.

Above-the-scenes views while we prepared ULA's Atlas V rocket to launch the GOES-S weather satellite for NASA and NOAA.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the GOES-S mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41.

An Atlas V 541 rocket will launch the GOES-S mission for the NASA and NOAA.

ULA's Atlas V rocket successfully launched the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission for the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 19, 2018.

ULA's Atlas V rocket successfully launched the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission for the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 19, 2018.

ULA asked our social media community to share your photos of U.S. service members so we could honor them during the Atlas V SBIRS GEO Flight 4 broadcast. Here are the photos they shared.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41.

Watch as ULA's Atlas V rocket launches the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO Flight 4 for the U.S. Air Force.

An Atlas V 411 rocket will launch the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41. SBIRS, considered one of the nation's highest priority space programs, is designed to provide global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st century demands in four national security mission areas: missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket carrying the NROL-47 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-6.

Tune in live to watch the United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launch the NROL-47 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

A Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) rocket will launch the NROL-47 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

The National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-47 payload, encapsulated inside a 5-meter payload fairing, is mated to a Delta IV rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex-6.

Wishing you a happy, warm and safe holiday season.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket carrying the JPSS-1 mission for NASA and NOAA lifts off from Space Launch Complex-2.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II 7920-10 rocket will deliver the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) spacecraft to a 444-nmi (822-km) near-circular polar orbit. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

An Atlas V rocket lifts off with the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-52 payload. This was the 60th Atlas V to launch from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41.

Tune in for the live launch broadcast as United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launches the NROL-52 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

A 4-meter diameter payload fairing, with the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-52 mission encapsulated inside, is mated to an Atlas V rocket at the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41.

An Atlas V 421 rocket will launch the NROL-52 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-3. Designated NROL-42, the mission is in support of national security.

Tune in for the live launch broadcast as United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launches the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.