NEW YORK — Blue Origin and equity firm Cerberus are competing to buy United Launch Alliance, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Blue Origin has a rocket engine plant in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park; ULA, which is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, has a manufacturing facility in Decatur. Lockheed Martin and Boeing have aerospace facilities in Huntsville.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Blue Origin and Cerberus have submitted buyout bids to ULA. The publication also said Textron may be interested in the rocket company.
ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur is scheduled will carry Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander in its first launch in January. Blue Origin’s Huntsville-made BE-4 engine powers the spacecraft’s first stage.
“We have worked diligently to develop this evolutionary rocket and certify the first vehicle for flight,” said Mark Peller, vice president of Vulcan Development. “This next generation launch vehicle incorporates new technology at all levels, powered by American ingenuity to meet our nation’s need for expanding space missions.”
ULA has a legacy of 100 percent mission success launching more than 155 missions, the company said.
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