Boeing selects United Launch Alliance to support commercial human spaceflight program, launch CST-100 spacecraft

Posted by Courtney E. HowardDENVER, 9 Aug. 2011. The Boeing Company officials have selected United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) Atlas V rocket to launch its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. ULA won a contract to provide launch services from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., with its Atlas V 412 configuration with a single, solid rocket booster and dual-engine, upper-stage Centaur.

"We are pleased Boeing selected the Atlas V rocket and believe it is the right vehicle to help usher in the new commercial era in human spaceflight," says George Sowers, ULA's vice president of business development. "The Atlas V is a cost-effective, reliable vehicle and ULA stands ready to support Boeing's commercial human spaceflight program."

The Atlas V system, providing launch capability for commercial crew capability development, plans an un-crewed orbital test flight and a crewed flight test in 2015, according to a company representative.

ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala.; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.