United Space Alliance
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, spaceflight operations |
| Founded | August 1995 |
| Founder | Rockwell International, Lockheed Martin |
| Defunct | December 20, 2019 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas , United States |
Area served | Texas, Florida, Alabama, Washington, D.C. region |
| Products | Space Shuttle program support, International Space Station support, spaceflight operations services |
| Owner | Boeing, Lockheed Martin |
Number of employees | 8,800 (2008) |
United Space Alliance (USA) was a company specializing in spaceflight operations, formed in August 1995 as a collaborative venture between Rockwell International and Lockheed Martin to support Space Shuttle missions. Following the sale of Rockwell's aerospace division to Boeing in December 1996, ownership of USA was shared between Boeing and Lockheed Martin throughout its existence. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the firm employed approximately 8,800 individuals in 2008, with operations spanning Texas, Florida, Alabama, and the Washington, D.C. region. The company ceased to exist on December 20, 2019.
History
United Space Alliance originated as a limited liability joint venture between Rockwell International and Lockheed Martin, designed to unify NASA’s multiple Space Shuttle program contracts under a single prime contractor. In September 1996, USA entered into the Space Flight Operations Contract (SFOC) with NASA, establishing itself as the sole prime contractor responsible for shuttle operations. This agreement remained effective for ten years until September 2006, when it was replaced by the Space Program Operations Contract (SPOC) commencing October 2, 2006.
Up until the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, USA’s core business involved managing and processing NASA's Space Shuttle fleet and providing support for the International Space Station at both the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and John F. Kennedy Space Center. The SPOC contract spanned from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2010, with provisions for five one-year extensions through FY2015. Under this contract, USA delivered services including mission design and planning; software development; astronaut and flight controller training; system integration; flight operations; vehicle processing alongside launch and recovery activities; sustaining engineering; flight crew equipment processing; and support associated with the Constellation Program. The contract operated on a cost-reimbursement basis with award and performance fees.
Transition toward post-Shuttle roles
Facing the impending conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, USA sought to expand its portfolio by securing government contracts supporting other NASA initiatives. One such contract was the 2008 Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC), which provided flight operations assistance for both the Constellation Program and International Space Station Program based in Houston until September 30, 2011. Additionally, in 2008 USA entered into a subcontract with Alliant Techsystems to assist with the development of the Ares I launch vehicle.
During this period, the company updated its branding by redesigning its logo to emphasize a broader focus on space operations beyond the retiring Space Shuttle program—replacing the shuttle graphic within the "A" with an image of a sun rising over Earth.
In November 2010, NASA selected United Space Alliance as a candidate for contracts related to heavy lift launch vehicle system concepts and propulsion technology development.
Closure
Efforts by USA’s leadership to secure new contracts following the Shuttle era were unsuccessful. Consequently, owners Boeing and Lockheed Martin decided to phase out the joint venture. By September 30, 2014, USA no longer maintained active contracts and announced it would not seek additional business but would continue limited administrative functions to oversee government contract close-outs—a process generally lasting five to seven years.
The company was formally dissolved on December 20, 2019.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Aerospace companies
- Boeing
- Space Shuttle program
- International Space Station
- Lockheed Martin
- Companies based in Houston
- Brevard County, Florida
- Companies established in 1995
- Commercial launch service providers
- Defunct companies based in Texas
- American companies disestablished in 2019