ULA executive admits company cannot compete with SpaceX on launch costs | Ars Technica

Rapid unscheduled retirement; also see ULA executive resigns after committing the gravest sin: speaking his mind (Washington Post)

"The most reliable US rocket company, United Launch Alliance, could not compete with upstart provider SpaceX during a competition in late 2015 for an Air Force payload, a senior engineer with the company said Wednesday. SpaceX was able to offer launch capabilities for as little as one-third the price of what United Launch Alliance could, said Brett Tobey, vice president of engineering for the Colorado-based rocket company.

It does not appear Tobey knew his remarks at a University of Colorado-Boulder seminar were being recorded. But Space News obtained a copy of the audio and posted the revealing, nearly hour-long recording on its website. By Wednesday night Reuters reported that Tobey had resigned from his position at United Launch Alliance, effective immediately."

ULA executive admits company cannot compete with SpaceX on launch costs | Ars Technica