Cimdata Logo

Industry Summary Articles

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

United Launch Alliance-Siemens Partnership Supports another Successful Atlas V Launch

An Atlas V rocket designed and built by United Launch Alliance (ULA), which utilizes engineering analysis and simulation software from Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business unit, carried a U.S. Navy communications satellite into space today.

The same Siemens PLM software was also used on the Mars Rover program to help in the design, production and testing of the Curiosity Rover. Additionally, the Atlas V also propelled the Mars Rover Curiosity into space in 2012 for its historic landing on the red planet.

“Software is helping to enable space exploration, and today I was witness to an important step in the next generation of discoveries,” said Helmuth Ludwig, Executive Vice President, Digital Enterprise Realization at Siemens. “Siemens is proud of our partnership with ULA and we are honored to be a software provider as they continue to advance the technology of space flight with launches like these, made possible with software like ours.”

ULA is the space industry’s most experienced launch services company, providing reliable, cost-efficient access to space for the Department of Defense, National Reconnaissance Office, NASA, and commercial customers. ULA has completed its first steps in a long-range plan to incorporate Siemens’ Teamcenter® software into its operation to manage the entire lifecycle development process of its Delta IV and Atlas V rockets. Today’s launch is ULA’s 92nd consecutive successful launch since the company began operations in December 2006.

“ULA is very proud of our 100 percent success rate, and our partnership with Siemens contributes to this success,” said Tory Bruno, ULA president and CEO. “Moving forward, an expanded technology partnership with Siemens will enable significant cost and resource savings while simultaneously improving process and product reliability at higher production and launch rates.”

ULA is partnering with Siemens to develop a fully integrated PLM management system that will connect and integrate engineering data with users and systems across the enterprise. ULA has deployed the capability to develop and manage mission requirements and ICDs (interface control documents) in an integrated system which gives a new level of visibility, interactive management, and closed-loop control to mission management engineers.

Siemens and ULA are currently developing a multi-CAD (computer-aided design) tool data and configuration management system which will enable a model based design and development approach for ULA’s new NGLS (next generation launch system) rocket.

Siemens’ software architecture and capabilities currently in development at ULA are expected to enable significant cost and resource savings while simultaneously improving process and product reliability at higher production and launch rates.

As the space exploration industry continues to evolve, so does engineering and manufacturing. In today’s cost-conscious – yet discovery-hungry – space industry, Siemens’ PLM software is a powerful tool enabling the efficient innovation that drives exploration. The software is used throughout the global space industry to help meet new challenges, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and help ensure mission success.

Siemens is proud to be a technology partner with a wide variety of organizations throughout the world including ULA, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser® spacecraft team. As these agencies and companies push the boundaries of space exploration further each day, Siemens stands as an invaluable partner and champion of the next-generation of space exploration.

r
ipad background image

Featured Cimdata Reports

ipadcontent
PLM-Enabled Digital Transformation Benefits Appraisal Guide

The Guide is designed to help potential PLM users evaluate the applicability and payoffs of PLM in their enterprise, and to help existing users of PLM monitor the impact it is having on their product programs.

ipadcontent
PLM Market Analysis Reports

The PLM MAR Series provides detailed information and in-depth analysis on the worldwide PLM market. It contains analyses of major trends and issues, leading PLM providers, revenue analyses for geographical regions and industry sectors, and historical and projected data on market growth.

ipadcontent
PLM Market Analysis Country Reports

These reports offer country-specific analyses of the PLM market. Their focus is on PLM investment and use in industrial markets. Reports cover Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

ipadcontent
Simulation & Analysis Market Analysis Report

This report presents CIMdata’s overview of the global simulation and analysis market, one of the fastest growing segments of the overall product lifecycle management market, including profiles of the leading S&A firms.

ipadcontent
CAM Market Analysis Report

This report presents CIMdata’s overview of the worldwide CAM software and services market. It also includes a discussion on the trends in the CAM industry and updates on the top CAM solution providers.