On late Tuesday night, the Atlas V launched successfully into orbit for the 62nd consecutive time without a failure. This was also the 106th straight successful launch for the United Launch Alliance (ULA). This rocket has been in the news off late, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. It has been criticised for not being very cost effective and for its engine that has been foreign-made. So much so that its disapproval got caught up in a congressional fight and has resulted in a high-profile Pentagon investigation.

Important launch

But this launch was an important one for NASA. It put an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft into orbit, on its way to the International Space Station, where it will deliver food, supplies and scientific experiments like the "gecko grippers." The gecko grippers is an interesting one - the study would explain how adhesives made to perform like a lizard's toe pads could work in space. The Atlas V will be coming to the rescue for Orbital ATK for the second time around. Last time, the Orbital had got its Antares rocket blown up, back in 2014. While a new Antares is being developed, it has counted on ULA to launch its spacecraft into orbit, the success of which has provided the confidence to NASA to contract out the cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station.

The controversy

For years now, ULA has been enjoying a monopoly for all the missions. But after Elon Musk's Space X won the right to compete with them for the very profitable National Security Launch missions, things have changed. These contracts have become ULA's lifeline, especially in a crucial time like this when Space X is breathing down their neck.