Comments on: Another ULA update

By: Depressed Engineer

Depressed Engineer — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:27:32 +0000

I am in agreement with the Boeing Spouse’s comments. As an employee of one of the two affected companies, I can honestly say that the situation is bad. The two programs have “Frozen” the employees into a 2 year cycle that begins on Day one. But this doesn’t account for the 13 months that we have already spent since the merger was announced. In looking at the Jobs posting, my company has quite a few listings that I would like to explore but cannot since I am frozen. To me, this really stinks to high heaven.

Thanks
D/E

By: Dennis Ray Wingo

Dennis Ray Wingo — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:54:55 +0000

One thing that is not pointed out in the international competitiveness theme is that due to USG procurement rules, the Atlas folks cannot charge commercial customers less than the amount of money that they charge the USG, which is their bread and butter customer.

Dennis

By: Boeing Spouse

Boeing Spouse — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:37:02 +0000

I enjoyed the article too, considering it’s the only mention in the news about ULA in the last six weeks.

“The ULA delay has played havoc with the lives and careers of dozens of highly-qualified technicians, engineers, etc.” Hallelujah, glad someone finally mentioned this in the media.

In my family, the delay has resulted in crushing depression. In our case, the depression stems from having no word one way or the other on the merger which has caused family planning issues to be involuntarily shanghaied; issues surrounding our real estate situation remain unresolved; and my own career choices are in limbo (or lack of choice, more like).

Anyway thanks for listening.

By: Chris Mann

Chris Mann — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:38:47 +0000

I really enjoyed Taylor’s article but the one area he didn’t really hit on is that this class of launcher is really competing in a global marketplace.

These launchers were never competing. ITAR is tying the hands of both LM and Boeing’s satellite and launch businesses behind their back.

If you yanks continue these self imposed trade sanctions for another decade the ‘free world’ will be done with American aerospace completely. I’d like to say good riddance, but a decade from now China and Europe could do with a developing nation offering them some cut price competition.

By: Ryan Z

Ryan Z — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:52:47 +0000

I really enjoyed Taylor’s article but the one area he didn’t really hit on is that this class of launcher is really competing in a global marketplace. A marketplace where the US is losing. Put in against competing against sea launch (and its new land launch spinoff), ILS (which also markets the atlas IV as well as the workhorse Proton) and Arianne, the US is really falling behind in its marketshare. Now i agree this is one messed up marketplace with all of these companies receiving some sort of government help, never the less it is this market which competes for the 20-30 commercial launches a year of which delta wins 0 and the atlas maybe 1 or 2 a year.