Business, Space

USA History Bleg

15 Comments

Does anyone from Boeing know the sequence of events of the formation of USA? At the time it was created, was it known that the company was going to purchase Rockwell’s space divisions, and were the legacy Rockwell people part of the new contract? USA was formed in September of 1996, I think, but the purchase didn’t occur until late in the year. I’m assuming that, since Rockwell wasn’t one of the initial parents, this must have been part of the purchase negotiations, but am curious to know how it all worked.

15 thoughts on “USA History Bleg”

  1. Can’t say who knew what over at Boeing, but Rockwell where I worked) owned the Rockwell Space Ops Contract (RSOC) and Lockheed owned whatever the KSC processing contract was. They joined to make USA (so we all swapped badges to become USA employees. Then came the Boeing buyout. Don’t recall how long elapsed before the buyout, but it was pretty transparent to us working in the trenches

  2. I’m not entirely sure about the details, but as I remember it,
    Rockwell (aka Boeing NA) turned themselves in for cheating on the EELV proposal they had won – turns out inside information on the LM proposal was used. This was so late in the game it prompted the USAF to sort of buy both versions – the Delta and the Atlas – while also giving them secure access to space. At about the same time, (the time when 650,000 aerospace workers were being laid off to the joy of the LA Times editorialists ) the super reliable Deltas started failing on a regular basis. I don’t doubt that the lay offs effected the Delta line. Pure guesswork on my part, but it could be that they didn’t want to reward Rockwell/ Boeing for cheating so the compromise would be a separate company that would also give the USAF secure access to space.

    I hope you or somebody is doing a history of that time – the human cost and technical cost to the country was given about as much press as the Ukrainian famine in the 30s.

  4. I would also suggest the Dow Jones News Retrieval service. When I was in the brokerage business, this was a very expensive subscription service for brokers, traders and fund managers. They have every corporate press release and announcement going all the way back to the beginning of time. If you don’t wish to pony up a couple hundred a month for a subscription, then make friends with a broker, trader or fund manager who can search the service for you. I would offer, but am out of the business now.

  5. USA was formed in August 1995. September 1996 was when the SFOC contract was signed. RSOC employees were rebadged in June 1996. At the time of rebadging, the RSOC rank-and-file were unaware of any potential RI sale of RSOC to Boeing.

    1. That’s what I was looking for, thanks. USA was actually formed by Rockwell and Lockheed Martin (had it become Lockheed Martin by then, or was it just Lockheed?), and when Boeing bought the Rockwell assets, it became part owner of USA as well?

      1. (had it become Lockheed Martin by then, or was it just Lockheed?)

        Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta in March 1995, so the USA negotiations were indeed between Rockwell International and Lockheed Martin.

        and when Boeing bought the Rockwell assets, it became part owner of USA as well?

        Right, when Boeing bought RI’s space and defense assets, RI’s half-stake in USA was one of the assets.

        1. The above is factually incorrect. USA was an LLC formed between Lockheed and Boeing. Rockwell was not party to its formation. Rockwell did not finally sell its aerospace divisions to Boeing until December 1996.

          1. I would strongly recommend you check the facts with the attorney contact I provided above. He worked on the Lockheed side.

          2. I suggest you check the facts with your attorney contact first. You’re seriously misremembering this. I was on the Rockwell side.

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