(note: this post is not directed to you, I&#x27;m sure none of this is news to you.  rather it&#x27;s for the benefit of the audience)<p>ULA is safe for a while due to the DoD&#x27;s requirement that they keep two domestic methods for space access alive.<p>Previously this was met with the combination of ULA&#x27;s Atlas V and Delta IV.  Now it&#x27;ll be the F9 and Atlas V, with the expensive Delta IV being phased out (it&#x27;s still occasionally needed as it&#x27;s the largest booster still in operation worldwide).<p>However ULA&#x27;s in trouble if another SpaceX shows up.  I assume that&#x27;s why they&#x27;re working so closely with Blue Origin, better to capture that player now and get a cheap engine provider out of it.<p>Another input: cost isn&#x27;t everything; the Atlas V has never lost a payload, while the F9 has.  An extra $40m doesn&#x27;t look like much if your payload is a half billion dollars, for example.