ULA's new rocket transporter, SpaceShip, nears completion

Construction is nearly complete for the world's newest rocket-delivery vessel, United Launch Alliance's SpaceShip that will carry Atlas V and Vulcan rocket elements from the factory in Decatur, Alabama to launch sites in Florida and California. 

SpaceShip is larger and even more capable than RocketShip, which remains in service after a quarter-century of voyages. The addition of a second vessel meets ULA's needs as our launch rate increases.

The ships are ULA's primary method for moving launch vehicles from the factory in Decatur, Alabama to either Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, or Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The trips to Cape Canaveral is approximately 1,700 miles one-way and Vandenberg, via the Panama Canal, is nearly 9,000 miles.

RocketShip, formerly the Delta Mariner, began transporting Delta IV cores to both sites 25 years ago, started carrying Atlas V stages in 2011 and has served all Vulcan deliveries to date. Vulcan stages are too large for air or road shipment, making SpaceShip a welcome addition to the fleet.

Exerpt from ULA's blog. Read the full blog post here:

https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/spaceship-soon-to-join-ula-as-rocket-transporter