United Launch Alliance inked a $96 million deal to build and launch an Atlas 5 rocket for a future mission to carry a spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, officials announced Thursday.

The rocket will fly from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg; however, the launch date hasn’t been determined, officials said.

The customer is the National Reconnaissance Office, a joint agency made up of CIA, other intelligence agencies and the Defense Department. NRO builds and operates satellites and other clandestine spacecraft.

“We are proud to support these national defense efforts by providing safe, cost effective launch services to our government customer,” said Ed Holtvluwer, ULA Atlas NRO program manager.

United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between former competitors, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, makers of Atlas and Delta rockets.

The West Coast’s first Atlas 5 rocket blasted off in March, and the second is poised for liftoff later this year.

The firm employs about 400 people at Vandenberg and 4,200 workers overall, but last month announced plans to lay off about 200 people, including 16 at Vandenberg, due to a slower launch market. Another 350 could lose their jobs later this year.

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Along with helping provide business that keeps workers employed, launch missions help boost the local economy, filling hotels and restaurants near liftoff day.

ULA’s first mission of 2009 scheduled for Tuesday involves another top-secret spacecraft for NRO aboard a Delta 4-Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The next ULA launch from Vandenberg is targeted for Feb. 4, when a Delta 2 rocket is scheduled to boost a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellite to orbit.

This is the second contract announcement from ULA in the past month. In December, the firm sealed the deal to launch a Delta 2 rocket with a fourth Earth-observing satellite for Italy’s space agency.

January 9, 2009