United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced Monday that it would establish a new customer program office to support Amazon’s Kuiper Program, with Chris Ellerhorst serving as the program office’s vice president.
The e-commerce giant’s goal with the Kuiper program is to increase global broadband access by sending advanced satellites into low earth orbit. Last month, Amazon announced that it had selected ULA’s next-generation Vulcan rocket for 38 launches as part of the ambitious program.
ULA is one of three firms Amazon is partnering with and will perform a majority of the launches. According to Amazon, its rocket deal is the largest in commercial space industry history.
In a statement, ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno asserted that Ellerhorst’s professional experience would serve to benefit the rocket manufacturer’s new program office.
“Following the contract announcement that ULA will be launching the majority of Amazon’s Kuiper constellation on nine Atlas and 38 Vulcan launch vehicles, we are standing up a new program office to support this customer,” said Bruno. “Chris’ extensive knowledge of customer requirements, his commitment to ensuring mission success as well as his unwavering dedication to serving the customer’s needs make him the perfect person to lead this new program office.”
Ellerhorst spoke to ULA’s unblemished launch record and touched on the aerospace company’s labor force, which he called the “most experienced workforce in the industry.”
“I am truly honored to lead ULA’s new program office for Project Kuiper,” stated Ellerhorst. “Amazon is an important customer with an exciting and meaningful mission, and I look forward to bringing ULA’s unmatched launch service capabilities, industry-leading mission operations and assurance to this program – delivered by the most experienced workforce in the industry.”
Amazon’s Kuiper Program is an initiative is designed to serve individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, government agencies and other entities operating in places without reliable broadband services.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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