http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/spacex-and-ula-eelv-contracts/

SpaceX and ULA go toe-to-toe over EELV contracts
March 5, 2014 by Chris Bergin

In what was one of the most fascinating hearings in years, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and United Launch Alliance (ULA) boss Michael Gass faced off against each other over the lucrative Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class contracts. Both gentlemen didn’t pull their punches, with Mr. Gass cited ULA’s superior reliability, while Mr. Musk denounced ULA’s costs, even claiming they should cancel their Atlas V rocket.

Currently, the ULA fleet of Deltas and Atlas V vehicles carry out the vast majority of USAF launches, which SpaceX has previously class as a “monopoly provider whose prices have consistently risen”. This remained part of the focus of Mr. Musk’s comments during Wednesday’s hearing.

There has been a historical disagreement between the two companies that stem back to the legal arguments which resulted in court action in 2005, where SpaceX tried to block the formation of the ULA between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

As such it was unsurprising that the leaders of both companies traded blows – albeit in a civil fashion – during the hearing.

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