LTV riding Scout in race for launch contracts. (Scout satellite-launch) (company profile)

LTV riding Scout in race for launch contracts

Thirty years ago, a skinny, 70-foot rocket named the Scout made it s debut and quickly become the US.S government's vehicle of choice for putting small, light satellites into low orbit. Its manufacturer, Dallas-based LTV Corp., racked in about $1 billion (after inflation) in revenue over the years more than 100 successful Scout launches for the U.S. and other communities.

Now LTV is making a play for two key federal satellite-launch contracts that could determine whether the venerable Scout has a future with Uncle Sam. NASA and the Air Force are soliciting bids on roughly 50 launch dates expected to represents the lion's share of federal lights-class satellite launches for the rest of the century.

As many as six companies are expected to make bids, but the competitions could boil down to a clash between LTV's old …