Space Force weighs launch alternatives as Vulcan faces potential months-long grounding
U.S. Space Force officials are revising launch schedules for a series of national‑security missions after United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan launch vehicle was taken off‑line by a solid‑rocket‑booster anomaly. The issue was identified during the Feb. 12 USSF‑87 flight, and a March 25 hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee featured lawmakers questioning Pentagon leaders about the disruption. Chairman Rep. Scott DesJarlais warned that the problem could produce at least a six‑month delay for any subsequent Vulcan launch, while the Space Force noted that the rocket and its Centaur upper stage still placed the payload into geosynchronous orbit as planned.
The Vulcan anomaly occurred shortly after liftoff, affecting one of its solid boosters and prompting a joint investigation involving ULA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The vehicle had been slated to deliver a next‑generation missile‑warning satellite, a wideband communications satellite and an intelligence spacecraft for the National Reconnaissance Office, in addition to a GPS satellite that has now been reassigned to SpaceX. Currently only ULA and SpaceX hold certification to launch national‑security payloads, limiting immediate alternatives. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is pursuing certification but must complete further flights before it can be cleared, and its timetable remains uncertain. Space Force deputy chief Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess indicated that the service is evaluating options such as extending the operational life of existing on‑orbit assets, pursuing rideshare opportunities, and shifting additional missions to other providers.
The constrained launch provider pool heightens the impact of a potential six‑month gap in Vulcan availability, a situation that could affect the timing of critical capability deliveries. The Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office continue to work with ULA’s parent companies to resolve the booster issue while the Pentagon’s acquisition office, led by Thomas Ainsworth, is directing program executives to explore all viable pathways for maintaining schedule integrity. The ongoing assessment underscores the importance of diversified launch capability for U.S. national‑security space operations.
