Ongoing Launch Vehicle Innovation at United Launch Alliance

General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas revolutionized global space access with the introduction of their respective commercial Atlas I and Delta II rockets. (12)Developed with support from the Air Force as an anchor tenant, the commercial Atlas and Delta rockets evolved from their legacy ancestors. Through continuous innovation, these early commercial vehicles evolved to the current Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles that provide the backbone of America's national security and science space access. Through numerous acquisitions and mergers, both of these world class rocket families are now part of United Launch Alliance (ULA). The long history of innovation that resulted in these vehicles continues today at ULA, ensuring that the Atlas and Delta families will continue to provide reliable, cost-effective space transportation for decades to come. Ongoing development of common manufacturing and processing, an improved RS-68A, and GPS metric tracking will provide enhanced customer support in the next few years. Currently in preliminary development, the Advanced Common Evolved Stage (ACES) and human rating will substantially enhance ULA's ability to support its customer needs. With conceptual development of partial booster reuse, orbital refueling, long-duration stages, and long-duration cryogenic propulsion stages, ULA is setting the stage to provide revolutionary space transportation in the years ahead.