ULA Introduces RapidLaunch to Improve Order-to-Launch Times

A United Launch Alliance rocket during lift off. Photo: ULA

[Via Satellite 09-14-2016] United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced a new service called RapidLaunch, which it claims provides the customer the fastest schedule from the initial order to launch service in the industry today. According to Tory Bruno, ULA CEO and president, this new offering allows customers to launch in a few as three months from placing their order.

In addition to the contracted launch date for the mission, now ULA can also assign the spacecraft as a backup to an earlier mission in the event that the earlier mission needs to move. If that happens, the RapidLaunch customer’s spacecraft can be pulled forward into that launch slot.

“To accommodate our RapidLaunch customers, we have added additional hardware to the production line, so that we can offer additional vehicles without an impact to our existing customers,” said Kent Lietzau, ULA’s vice president of business development. “We have also moved customization for any particular launch to the last three months of production.”