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ULA Gears Up Vulcan for First Space Force Mission and Faster Launch Rate

Infrastructure upgrades at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg support a planned twice-monthly Vulcan launch cadence.

Overview

  • The USSF-106 mission is set to lift off August 12 from Space Launch Complex 41, marking Vulcan’s debut U.S. Space Force flight.
  • ULA now forecasts nine launches in 2025 and aims to achieve a bi-monthly rhythm by year’s end through new integration facilities and SLC-3 conversions.
  • The SMART Reuse booster recovery system has passed its critical design review, with experimental flights targeted for 2026.
  • CEO Tory Bruno has urged the Space Force and FAA to carry out a thorough range-capacity and environmental analysis of SpaceX’s planned high-rate Starship operations.
  • Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines on Vulcan are performing strongly, and ULA has arrangements to support up to six Sierra Space Dream Chaser missions.