https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/ula-to-amateur-launch-photographers-work-for-me-but-not-for-thee/ Skip to main content * Biz & IT * Tech * Science * Policy * Cars * Gaming & Culture * Store * Forums Subscribe [ ] Close Navigate * Store * Subscribe * Videos * Features * Reviews * RSS Feeds * Mobile Site * About Ars * Staff Directory * Contact Us * Advertise with Ars * Reprints Filter by topic * Biz & IT * Tech * Science * Policy * Cars * Gaming & Culture * Store * Forums Settings Front page layout Grid List Site theme light dark Sign in Updated Launch Agreement -- After years of leniency, ULA cracks down on hobbyist photographers "I'm just shocked they don't want more coverage of these things and not less." Eric Berger - Jul 31, 2024 2:05 pm UTC This image of an Atlas V launch on Tuesday morning has been intentionally blurred. Enlarge / This image of an Atlas V launch on Tuesday morning has been intentionally blurred. United Launch Alliance reader comments 188 The emails from United Launch Alliance started popping into the inboxes of photographers a few days after the Fourth of July holiday. Although that day is meant to celebrate freedom and the red glare of rockets, the communication threatened to strip both from some of the company's most ardent devotees. The message from the launch company announced the implementation of a new "annual agreement" between ULA and all people who place remote cameras at Space Launch Complex-41, the company's active launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Anyone interested in setting remotes for future launch dates had 11 days to review and sign the agreement. The language was clear: Photographers were welcome to set up remote shots at ULA launches if they worked for the media or wanted to post their work on social media. However, photographers could not sell this work independently, including as prints for fellow enthusiasts or for use in annual calendars. "ULA will periodically confirm editorial publication for media participating in remote camera placement," the email stated. "If publication does not occur, or photos are sold outside of editorial purposes, privileges to place remote cameras may be revoked." To the photographers who spend many hours preparing their equipment, waiting to set up and remove cameras, and persevering through scrubs and more, it seemed like a harsh judgment. And nobody knew why it happened. No comment United Launch Alliance has offered no public comment about the new policy. The company did not respond to questions from Ars Technica about the agreement. And the company's chief executive, Tory Bruno, a frequent tweeter who regularly interacts with fans on the social media site X, has ignored dozens of questions about the policy change. Since the first questions were raised a few days ago, Bruno has not replied to anyone on X. The photographers themselves felt blindsided by the decision. "I cannot sit by while myself and my colleagues are actively being forbidden from trying to support ourselves to be able to do what we do," said David Diebold, a photographer for Space Scout, on X. "Being forced to sign an agreement that is a net negative for all of the media is the last thing I'll do. If this is the end of the line for covering ULA missions up close, then so be it." Other photographers shared similar sentiments privately, but they did not want to be seen publicly calling out ULA, the second-most important launch provider in the United States. The new rules went into effect on Tuesday with the final launch of an Atlas V rocket for a national security mission. A ULA representative told participating photographers that the intent of the new rules was to prohibit the sale of images to any commercial entities, including prints to individuals, except for news publications. There was no explanation given for why. How did we get here? For a long time, the rules for accessing the press site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and setting up remote cameras for launches there and at the military launch pads were clear. You had to be working press or have a letter from a publication that you were on assignment. But a decade and a half ago, several things occurred that began to change this. As the Space Shuttle program wound down, NASA sought to induce positive publicity by inviting social media participants to launches and other events. The events were initially called "Tweetups" at their inception in 2009, and later "NASA Socials." The space agency provided access to non-media spaceflight enthusiasts, who then shared their experiences on Twitter and other social media outlets. The space agency further blurred the lines between traditional reporters and social media enthusiasts by inviting these participants to some news conferences. Page: 1 2 3 Next - reader comments 188 Eric Berger Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to wonky NASA policy, and author of the book Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. Advertisement Channel Ars Technica - Previous story Next story - Related Stories Today on Ars * Store * Subscribe * About Us * RSS Feeds * View Mobile Site * Contact Us * Staff * Advertise with us * Reprints Newsletter Signup Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox. Sign me up - CNMN Collection WIRED Media Group (c) 2024 Conde Nast. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Ars Technica Addendum. Ars may earn compensation on sales from links on this site. Read our affiliate link policy. Your California Privacy Rights | [privacyopt] Do Not Sell My Personal Information The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Conde Nast. Ad Choices