Tim Piller has spent his entire career in aerospace. In 1984, with a degree in industrial technology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he joined Martin Marietta, which became Lockheed Martin and, in 2006, United Launch Alliance, the nation’s premier space launch company. In the Valley since 2002, Piller was ULA’s manager of production for the rocket builders until he was appointed ULA Site Lead last year.
Q You and your crew make the Atlas four-meter diameter fairing which encloses the payload — either satellites going into orbit or exploratory/research spacecraft headed for Mars, Pluto or the moon. Atlas rocket mechanical structures and adapter assemblies are fabricated here too. Have they all launched successfully?
A Every one. We launched the Curiosity to Mars and the New Horizons spacecraft in 2006. It began sending back the first ever close-up photos of Pluto in July. We have launched weather, GPS and defense satellites and have scheduled a launch for the Mexican government. We’ve sent rockets to crash into the moon to evaluate if water vapor is in the dust.
Q United Launch Alliance and its predecessors have been in Harlingen for 27 years. You just renewed the lease on your Valley International Airport facility for five years. Was there any doubt it would stay in the Valley?
A The aerospace business has become more competitive in the last years. ULA is always looking for opportunities to improve its operations. The City of Harlingen came up with incentives that made the business case for us to stay here instead of consolidating in Decatur, Ala. I don’t expect to expand our physical facility here, but we have added a second shift and have been hiring to increase our capacity. Currently there are 162 employees, and the majority of them are rocket builders. This is the busiest we’ve been since I’ve been here.
Q Why?
A Because we are very reliable and the demand is there from commercial and government agencies.
Q Atlas rockets carried Gemini astronauts into space in the 1960s and are still launching. The rockets are 19 stories tall and carry payloads ranging from 6,000-40,000 pounds. Are they are the Energizer bunny of American rockets?
A The Atlas rocket is a real workhorse. Right now we launch 12-15 of our Atlas and Delta rockets every year. One of our rockets launched on July 15, carrying a GPS satellite for the Air Force. A second one went up a week later.
Q Do you celebrate every time one of your rockets lifts off?
A The facility stands down, and everyone is able to watch each lift-off live on closed circuit here.
Q Who are your customers?
A The Department of Defense, NASA and commercial ventures.
Q You were in Cape Canaveral in early July. As an observer?
A I was visiting internal ULA customers assembling a payload. It’s always good to check in and see if we are meeting their expectations. I’m happy to say they were pleased with our product.
To read more of this story by Eileen Mattei, read the August 2015 edition of VBR under the “Current & Past Issues” tab on this website, or pick up a copy on news stands.