An Atlas 5 launch vehicle carrying the NROL 67 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Photo: ULA

[Via Satellite 04-21-2014] United Launch Alliance (ULA) has awarded a $178 million contract to ATK for hardware orders for the United States Air Force’s Phase 1 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). The orders are for the Atlas 5 and Delta 5 launch vehicles, and the contracting period also calls for large composite structures with deliveries starting in Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2014 and going through early AFY 2018.

The composite structures in the order range from 13 to 18 feet in diameter and lengths up to 63 feet, with measurements including fairings, payload adapters and diaphragms, interstages, nose cones and structures for main engine thermal/aerodynamic protection. The structures will be manufactured at ATK’s Large Structures Center of Excellence (COE) facility in Iuka, Miss.