United Launch Alliance

BActive (50/50 joint venture: Boeing & Lockheed Martin)Founded 2006🇺🇸Denver, Colorado

CEO

John Elbon (interim)

Overview

United Launch Alliance is Boeing and Lockheed Martin's launch-services joint venture for U.S. national security, NASA, and commercial customers. ULA says it has achieved more than 150 consecutive launches since 2006, is winding down Atlas V through Amazon's remaining Leo missions, and is shifting its long-term manifest onto the Vulcan Centaur family.

Main Products

Vulcan Centaur

Active

Next-generation medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicle replacing Atlas V and Delta IV, powered by BE-4 engines.

First launch 2024 — certified by U.S. Space Force in March 2025. Operational for NSSL and commercial missions.

Payload to LEO27,200 kg

Payload to GTO14,400 kg

Height61.6 m (202 ft)

Engines (booster)2 × BE-4

Upper StageCentaur V

Cost per Launch~$110M

Atlas V

Active (winding down)

Workhorse medium-lift launch vehicle with a 100% mission success rate, being phased out in favor of Vulcan Centaur.

Operational since 2002 — remaining missions being flown before full transition to Vulcan Centaur.

Payload to LEO18,850 kg

Payload to GTO8,900 kg

Total Launches100+

Success Rate100%

Height58.3 m (191 ft)

Notable MissionsMars rovers, Juno, OSIRIS-REx, Starliner

Centaur V

Active

Advanced cryogenic upper stage for Vulcan, enabling high-energy orbits and deep space missions.

Operational on Vulcan Centaur since 2024 — evolved from the Centaur III used on Atlas V.

Engines2 × RL10C-1-1

PropellantLOX / LH2

Diameter5.4 m (17.7 ft)

Multiple restart capabilityYes

What's Next

Resume Vulcan launch cadence

Complete root-cause analysis and corrective actions from the USSF-87 solid-rocket-motor anomaly, then return Vulcan to its planned national-security and commercial launch rhythm.

2026

Atlas V final missions

Fly Leo 6 and the final two Amazon Leo missions on Atlas V, then finish the platform's retirement as ULA shifts the remaining Kuiper backlog onto Vulcan.

2026

Execute Phase 3 national security backlog

Convert the April 2025 Phase 3 win into a sustained Vulcan manifest, with mission orders spanning fiscal years 2025-2029 and launches running through 2034.

2025-2034

Operations & Revenue

StatusOperational

Operational since 2006. Atlas V is in its final Amazon Leo campaign, and Vulcan is in service for national security and commercial missions while ULA completes corrective actions from the USSF-87 solid-motor anomaly before the next Vulcan flight.

Revenue Streams

National Security Launches

Primary revenue source — ULA won 40% of the Space Force's NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions for the most demanding national-security orbits.

NASA Missions

Launch services for NASA science missions including Mars rovers, solar probes, and crewed Starliner flights.

Commercial Launches

Commercial launch services anchored by Amazon's Leo constellation campaign, with three Atlas V launches and 38 Vulcan launches remaining after Leo 5.

Key Metrics

Employees

~2,700

Est. Annual Revenue

~$1B (2025 est.)

Consecutive Launch Successes

150+

National Security Missions

100+

Amazon Leo Satellites Delivered

139

Timeline

2026USSF-87 launches on Vulcan

Vulcan flies its first post-certification national security mission, delivering USSF-87 directly to GEO; ULA then begins corrective actions after a solid-rocket-motor anomaly observed during ascent.

2025Vulcan certified and operational

Vulcan Centaur is certified by the U.S. Space Force for national security missions. Begins operational NSSL and commercial launches.

2025Wins Phase 3 national security award

The U.S. Space Force selects ULA for 40% of NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions, extending Vulcan's national-security backlog into the next decade.

2025Leadership transition

Tory Bruno resigns after nearly 12 years as CEO and John Elbon is named interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.

2024Vulcan Centaur first launch

Vulcan Centaur successfully launches on its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral.

2023Final Delta IV Heavy launch

Retires the Delta IV Heavy after its final national security mission.

2018Vulcan Centaur announced

Unveils next-generation Vulcan Centaur to replace both Atlas V and Delta IV.

201250th consecutive successful launch

Reaches 50 launches with 100% mission success rate.

2007First Atlas V national security launch

Begins regular cadence of Atlas V missions for NRO and DoD.

2006Founded

Boeing and Lockheed Martin form ULA as a joint venture for government launches.

Funding

Round	Date	Amount	Investors
Joint venture formation	2006	N/A	Boeing, Lockheed Martin (50/50 JV)
NSSL Phase 2 contract	2020	~$3.5B	U.S. Space Force (60% of NSSL missions)
NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 award	2025-04	40% of Phase 3 Lane 2 missions	U.S. Space Force