The Space Force announced a significant development as of the first quarter of 2025: The Vulcan Centaur rocket, manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA), has been approved for military launch missions. This approval establishes ULA as a capable competitor to SpaceX. This approval is an important step for the Space Force to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of the nation’s most critical space-based systems into space.
Vulcan Centaur's Certification Process
The certification process for the Vulcan rocket to be used in military launches was quite rigorous and comprehensive. This process, which began in 2016, included a series of tests and inspections conducted jointly by the Space Force and ULA. It required meeting 52 certification criteria, testing 18 subsystem designs, and conducting 114 hardware and software inspections. This long and challenging process was finally completed successfully in the first quarter of 2024.
Launches and Technical Difficulties
The final steps of the Vulcan Centaur rocket’s certification process included two launches in January and October 2024. However, during the second launch, an anomaly occurred in the solid-fuel rocket booster provided by Northrop Grumman. In February, it was stated that this problem was due to a manufacturing error and that the problem was fixed. Although this technical glitch delayed the certification process by a few months, the rocket’s final approval was a great success.
The Role and Future of Vulcan
The Space Force has positioned the Vulcan Centaur as a viable solution for an “evolving spectrum of missions.” The rocket is designed to meet the demands of future military missions and is capable of reaching challenging orbits with high performance and exceptional accuracy. “This rocket will enable customers to safely reach the most complex and exotic orbits,” said ULA CEO Tory Bruno.
The Beginning of Competition with SpaceX
The approval of Vulcan provides an alternative competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon rockets. Until 2020, ULA was the sole provider of military launches with its retired Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. However, after SpaceX’s Falcon 9 was approved, SpaceX won 2020% of the NSSL (National Security Space Launch) missions as of 40. ULA controlled a large portion of the market by holding the remaining 60%. The approval of Vulcan Centaur will further intensify this competition and provide a serious competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon rockets.
New Competitors: Blue Origin and Other Companies
Following Vulcan’s certification, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket also completed its first certification flight for military launches. Other companies are also planning to make their mark in this area. Rocket Lab aims to launch its Neutron rocket in 2025, while Relativity Space plans to launch its Terran R in 2026. Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace are also partnering on the Medium Launch Vehicle rocket, aiming for a launch in 2026.
Increasing Competition in the Military Space Launch Market
Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman said the increasing number of companies looking to enter the military space launch market has further intensified competition in the sector. Just 10 years ago, there were a limited number of providers and rocket systems for military space launches. However, many new players are now preparing to enter the market. This means that future space launch missions will be conducted in a more efficient and competitive environment.
The approval of the Vulcan Centaur rocket for military launches is a significant milestone for both ULA and the military space program. Along with SpaceX and ULA, Blue Origin and others are also looking to establish a strong presence in this market. This will increase diversity and competition in the future of military space launch missions, and enable safer and more efficient launch solutions. The Space Force’s interest in these developments can be considered part of the US’s efforts to strengthen its military presence in space.
