# **ULA’s Vulcan Rocket Encounters Setbacks During Space Force Certification Review**
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is facing yet another hurdle in its attempts to launch the Vulcan rocket, as the U.S. Space Force continues its review process for certification. This ongoing delay has necessitated the removal of ULA’s next Vulcan rocket from the launch pad, further extending the timeline for essential national security missions.
## **Background: Challenges in Vulcan’s Development and Certification**
ULA started the assembly of its third Vulcan rocket in October 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, in anticipation of a mission for the U.S. Space Force. However, the launch did not proceed as scheduled, and the company is still waiting for formal certification from the Space Force. This delay has affected the delivery timeline for several military satellites that were planned to launch on the Vulcan rocket.
With no immediate launch date in view, ULA has begun to dismantle the stacked Vulcan rocket to accommodate an Atlas V rocket—the predecessor of Vulcan—which is set to launch Amazon’s Kuiper Internet satellites. ULA’s facilities at Cape Canaveral are limited to stacking one rocket at a time, though a new assembly building is projected to enhance capability later this year.
## **ULA’s Efforts to Fulfill Launch Requirements**
ULA initially planned to conduct up to 20 launches in 2025, dividing them between the Vulcan and Atlas V rockets. However, six weeks into the year, the company has not yet achieved its first launch. The delays have sparked concerns among Pentagon officials, who are expressing dissatisfaction over ULA’s sluggish advancements.
In a correspondence to Boeing and Lockheed Martin—ULA’s co-owners—Frank Calvelli, the then-Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition, raised alarms about ULA’s capacity to increase Vulcan’s production and launch cadence to fulfill military requirements. The Pentagon had given ULA 26 missions valued at $4.5 billion under its “Phase 2” contract, with 25 of these missions designated for Vulcan. Nevertheless, delays have hindered ULA from keeping up with SpaceX, which has already started executing its share of the contract.
## **Technical Problems and Certification Hold-ups**
The development of the Vulcan rocket has been marred by complications, postponing its inaugural launch by almost four years. ULA successfully conducted Vulcan’s first demonstration flight in January 2024, but a second test flight in October 2024 uncovered a malfunction in one of the rocket’s solid rocket boosters. The booster detached its exhaust nozzle shortly after liftoff, triggering an engineering investigation alongside the Space Force’s certification procedures.
As the Space Force mandates two successful Vulcan flights before granting operational approval, the booster issue has eliminated any possibility of launching the first military mission by the close of 2024. ULA CEO Tory Bruno mentioned that engineers have pinpointed the issue, which pertains to insulation failures within the booster’s nozzle. Current boosters will require slight adjustments to resolve the problem.
## **Repercussions for Military and Commercial Missions**
The inaugural national security mission on Vulcan, labeled USSF-106, aims to deploy an experimental navigation satellite for the Air Force Research Laboratory. However, with certification still outstanding, ULA has redirected its attention to commercial clients.
Amazon’s Kuiper satellite constellation, designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network, has now become the next priority in ULA’s launch agenda. Amazon has booked eight Atlas V flights and 38 Vulcan launches to roll out roughly half of its intended 3,232 satellites. The company recently announced that its initial batch of production satellites has been sent to Cape Canaveral for impending launch.
## **Looking Forward: What’s Next for Vulcan?**
Despite these challenges, ULA has amassed an inventory of rockets, including 15 Atlas V vehicles and several Vulcan rockets ready for launch. The company anticipates wrapping up the certification process by late February or early March, potentially paving the way for the USSF-106 mission after the next Atlas V launch.
If the Space Force approves certification as anticipated, the USSF-106 mission could take off between April and June 2025—nearly five years after ULA secured its lucrative contract. Until then, ULA must maneuver through both technical and bureaucratic obstacles to ensure Vulcan enters regular operations.
### **Conclusion**
ULA’s Vulcan rocket program remains in a precarious position as it awaits certification from the Space Force. The delays have affected military and commercial missions alike, prompting ULA to reorganize its launch timetable. While the company has the necessary hardware prepared, ongoing regulatory and technical challenges are still hindering advancement. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining if ULA can achieve its ambitious launch objectives and sustain its place as a vital player in the national security space domain.
