ILS, Lockheed See Opportunity for More NASA Business

摘要

International Launch Services is renewing its push to capture more satellite-launch business from NASA, a market that Boeing has had largely to itself in recent years with its Delta 2 rocket. According to industry officials, the Lockheed Martin-affiliated launch services provider sees an opportunity in the impending loss of Boeing's other main source of Delta 2 business, launching GPS satellites for the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force is shifting GPS missions to its Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) line of rockets, a move that these officials say will drive up the unit cost of the Delta 2 and thus make the larger Atlas 5 more cost competitive.