ULA [RD-180] Atlas V to Retire After 29 Missions, Boeing-Lockheed's Venture Now Stops Sale of Rocket

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ULA Atlas V to Retire After 29 Missions, Boeing-Lockheed's Venture Now Stops Sale of Rocket

ULA's Atlas V Rocket is retiring after 29 more missions, with Boeing-Lockheed's venture stops the sale of the spacecraft.

www.techtimes.com

United Launch Alliance's Atlas V would soon retire after 29 more missions with the company, as Boeing-Lockheed's venture has been canceled. The sale or use of the rocket would not be limited and counted as something that would be happening after a long time of its operations with NASA, and other private companies.

The Atlas V rocket was known to deliver US Air Force's GPS satellite into orbit, and they were the initially known company and rocket to be doing missions under government contracts.

According to The Verge's interview with CEO Tory Bruno, the company has come to a decision where it would be stopping the sale and service of Atlas V after 29 missions. The well-known launch vehicle was one of the most trusted rockets in the industry, having served numerous flights that brought payloads to orbit.


Bruno revealed that the company has also stopped its purchase of the Russian engine which the Atlas V uses-the RD-180 engine-which has been one of the most controversial components of ULA's rockets.

Russia's space program has been highly dependent on ULA's Atlas V, as it has purchased numerous of these engines, helping them accelerate and have funds for their ventures. The engines are an excellent work of engineering, and it has proven itself through the years and missions of the company.

That being said, it is being made to retire.

 

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Russia says it will no longer sell rocket engines to the United States

The decision would primarily affect two companies in the US

www.theverge.com

ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, uses Russia’s RD-180 engine to power its workhorse Atlas V rocket, which the company has flown for nearly two decades. However, the RD-180 has been a controversial piece of hardware.

ULA: Russia sanctions not expected to disrupt Atlas 5 operations

ULA: Russia sanctions not expected to disrupt Atlas 5 operations

spacenews.com

WASHINGTON — The Russian rocket engines that United Launch Alliance needs to complete the remaining launches of the Atlas 5 are stored in the United States. The company said the operation of the vehicle will not be affected by the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the Biden administration in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The RD-180 was put on Atlas “because the U.S. government asked us to,” Bruno noted. “They wanted to prevent Russian rocket scientists from going to North Korea and Iran after the Cold War. After Crimea in 2014, the U.S. government decided this was no longer a good idea. I came to ULA that summer and started Vulcan.”

U.S. Air Force sees no impact from Russia's decision to cut off supply of rocket engines

U.S. Air Force sees no impact from Russia's decision to cut off supply of rocket engines

spacenews.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said U.S. national security launches will not be affected by Russia’s decision to stop supplying rocket engines to the United States in retaliation for sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

“I think our launch needs will be met,” Kendall told reporters March 3 at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium.
ULA said it already has all the engines it needs to complete the remaining 24 launches of the Atlas 5 scheduled between now and 2025, and the engines are stored in the United States.