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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.

United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan VC2S rocket launches its first certification mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Jan. 8, 2024. (U.S. Space Force photo by DeAnna Murano)
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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.