Thorny Competition.

The article discusses the purchase of rockets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in 2012 from the company United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has a rocket monopoly, and U.S. lawmakers such as Representatives Mike Rogers and C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger are reported to want the USAF to combine launch contracts to save money. Satellite launch costs, rocket certification, and companies such as Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) are discussed.