The article, titled "Implication of Sabotage Adds Intrigue to SpaceX Investigation," stated investigators wanted access to a UAL facility:
As part of the investigation, SpaceX officials had come across something suspicious they wanted to check out, according to three industry officials with knowledge of the episode. SpaceX had still images from video that appeared to show an odd shadow, then a white spot on the roof of a nearby building belonging to ULA, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.The piece also notes the ongoing rivalry between the firms.
This is very odd, but hopefully just the results of a very wide investigation rather than real suspicions about a competitor. We have enough issues with foreign spying and competition without any issues stateside.
One can understand frustration at UAL given SpaceX's rise, as noted in this story from April:
United Launch Alliance plans to cut up to 875 jobs, or about one-quarter of its workforce, before the end of 2017 to better compete against rivals bankrolled by billionaire entrepreneurs including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, ULA's chief executive said on Thursday.That said, we still need to see this as an American initiative if not an Earth initiative as we plans for a trip to Mars. I expect all the competitors understand this and will play by the rules.
