The US Air Force is to restructure its Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) programme.
Lockheed Martin, which with Boeing has a contract to develop modular EELVs, has been told to hold off on the production of the heavylift version of the Atlas V and not complete assembly of an Atlas V launch pad at Vandenberg AFB, California. The Atlas V comprises a cluster of three first-stage Atlas boosters, based on the Atlas III.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing continue to build EELV pads at Cape Canaveral, with 28 launches planned for 2002. Lockheed Martin has a $649 million contract for nine Atlas V launches, while Boeing has a $1.38 billion contract for 19 Delta IV launches.
Meanwhile, Spaceport Florida will provide $300 million for Lockheed Martin to develop a launch infrastructure for the Atlas V EELV at Cape Canaveral.
Source: Flight International