While some companies are finding the economy challenging good news came to those companies selected by NASA as part of its Commercial Crew Development Program (CCDev) such as United Launch Alliance (ULA). The program was created by NASA to develop system concepts, key technologies, and capabilities that will ultimately be used in commercial crew space transportation systems. ULA was awarded $6.7 million to develop an Emergency Detection System (EDS), which is the final significant element necessary for a safe and highly reliable human rated launch vehicle. 

The EDS monitors critical launch vehicle and spacecraft systems and issues status, warning and abort commands to the crew during their mission to Low Earth Orbit.  ULA studies show that the EDS development is the final technical risk to address prior to the launch of humans on its Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles. NASA and ULA’s mutual goal is to develop a system that builds on the demonstrated reliability of both the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicle systems to maximize safety for a Commercial Crew Program. With ULA’s experience in expendable launch vehicle development and operation they are uniquely qualified and ready to work with NASA to develop and demonstrate the EDS for a Commercial Crew Program. 

“ULA is excited to participate with NASA on the CCDev Program.” said Michael Gass, ULA President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to supporting NASA as they embark on a bold and innovative initiative that emphasizes safe, reliable, and commercial access to space.  We are confident that our flight-proven Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles can help NASA achieve its goals.”

The innovative CCDev Program will allow ULA to build upon its on-going company investments in Commercial Human Space Flight. ULA will work closely with NASA to identify critical failure modes of the flight-proven Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles. ULA will then develop the hardware components and software processes that will detect these modes allowing for rigorous and exhaustive testing on a prototype EDS before the first crewed flight.

ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Alabama; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, California.  Launch operations are located at CCAFS, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.