United Launch Alliance launched a second flight of its new Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission, which included engine demonstrations, is a crucial step toward certifying the vehicle for national security missions.
ULA, owned by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, aims to replace its Atlas V and Delta IV rockets with the more powerful Vulcan. The company must complete two certification flights, with the first successful flight in January.
Following today’s launch, ULA will analyze data and hand it over to the Space Force for review. The Space Force will then make a decision on certifying the rocket, which is crucial for upcoming military missions planned by ULA later this year.
Despite setbacks in development and testing, including engine issues with Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine, ULA is confident in meeting the challenge of a busy year ahead with 20 planned missions in 2025. The company has made substantial investments in developing Vulcan and expanding its infrastructure to support the increased launch rate.
ULA faced delays that put military satellite launches on hold, prompting concerns from Space Force officials. An independent review team confirmed that ULA is on a solid track to ramping up operations. Recommendations from the team focused on improving production, planning, and resilience within the company.
The review findings are being briefed to the Space Force, Lockheed, and Boeing leadership. ULA CEO Tory Bruno expressed his commitment to implementing the suggested improvements to meet the company’s obligations and plans.