Judge Sets Orbital's RD-180 Lawsuit on Path for Trial

摘要

Orbital Sciences Corp., which is suing United Launch Alliance (ULA) and one of its main vendors for access to the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine, could have its day in court as soon as May after a federal judge on Dec. 6 rejected ULA's argument that the lawsuit should be thrown out. Court documents filed after the hearing in Alexandria, Va., show U.S. Districtjudge Leonie Brinkema denied motions brought by ULA and engine reseller RD-Amross to dismiss the suit. The companies argued, among other reasons, that Orbital had no case under U.S. antitrust laws because the Dulles-based rocket- and satellite-builder has viable alternatives to the RD-180.