On Wednesday, the U.S. Space Force announced that it has certified United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket for military launch missions. This certification allows ULA to compete with SpaceX for future contracts within the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, who serves as the Space Systems Command’s program executive officer for assured access to space, commented on the significance of the Vulcan certification. She stated that it “adds launch capacity, resiliency, and flexibility needed by our nation’s most critical space-based systems.”
Achieving certification for NSSL missions involves a comprehensive, yearslong process tailored to the specific capabilities of each rocket. For the Vulcan Centaur, certification efforts began in 2016. During this period, the Space Force and ULA validated that the rocket met 52 certification criteria. This included 18 subsystem design and test reviews, along with 114 audits of the rocket’s hardware and software.
The final steps toward certification included two launches of the Vulcan rocket: the first in January 2024 and the second in October of the previous year. The latter mission was marked by an anomaly related to a solid rocket booster provided by Northrop Grumman. ULA CEO Tory Bruno indicated in February that the issue was traced to a manufacturing defect involving a component of the booster, which delayed the certification process originally expected to conclude by the end of 2024.
Bruno expressed optimism regarding the Space Force’s certification, noting that it positions the Vulcan rocket to support an “expanding spectrum of missions,” asserting that the next-generation rocket offers high performance and precision capabilities.
Prior to the Vulcan’s certification, only SpaceX had been certified to perform NSSL missions, through its Falcon 9 rocket. ULA’s legacy Atlas V and Delta IV rockets served as military launch providers before their retirement. Previously, in 2020, SpaceX secured a 40% share of military missions planned for fiscal years 2022 to 2027, while ULA retained 60%.
The Vulcan certification introduces a significant competitor for SpaceX’s Falcon rockets; however, additional companies such as Blue Origin, which launched its New Glenn rocket for certification in January, are also vying for a share of this market. Various other firms are in the earlier stages of launch vehicle development, including Rocket Lab, which aims to fly its Neutron rocket by December 2025, and Relativity Space, planning to launch its Terran R next year.
Furthermore, Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace are collaborating to develop the Medium Launch Vehicle, also targeting a debut in 2026. At a recent conference, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman remarked on the increased interest from companies entering the military space launch sector, reflecting the industry’s growth from a decade ago when it had only one provider and a limited number of rocket systems.
Courtney Albon, the reporter covering the story for C4ISRNET, has extensive experience reporting on the U.S. military and focuses on issues related to the Air Force and Space Force.
