A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Intended orbit is geostationary. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-37B (SLC-37B) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida currently scheduled for 2024-03-28 at 17:40 UTC. This is the 16th and final launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket.
Scrub to 2024-03-29 17:37
Boeing & Lockheed Martin are selling ULA, even though it is profitable (mostly because of government contracts).
Blue Origin has emerged as the likely buyer for United Launch Alliance | Ars Technica
"… Although there are no confirmed values, there has been speculation in the launch industry that ULA may be sold for $2 billion to $3 billion.
ULA was created in 2006 through a merger of Boeing’s Delta rocket program and Lockheed Martin’s Atlas launcher family. Since then, ULA has been a profitable enterprise for both aerospace giants, thanks to military launch contracts and (until recently) large annual subsidies from the US Department of Defense to maintain “launch readiness” for national security missions. …."
Since ULA – just like all the other expendable rocket builders around the world – cannot compete on price with SpaceX’s reusable rocket, one wonders what it has that would be worth $2 - 3 Billion? Is that the value of a first-rate Congressional lobbying capability?
Touché!
Today’s upcoming 16:53 UTC attempt: