ULA's Vulcan Centaur Challenges SpaceX in U.S. Military Space Launch Arena

For years, Elon Musk's SpaceX has been at the forefront of U.S. military space launches, offering reliable and cost-effective solutions for missions beyond Earth's atmosphere. This dominance is now being challenged as the U.S. Space Force has officially certified United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket to carry critical national security payloads.​

This certification marks the culmination of a rigorous, multi-year evaluation process, encompassing thorough assessments of hardware, software, and subsystem designs. It confirms that the Vulcan Centaur has met all 52 criteria required for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) certification. Brigadier General Kristin Panzenhagen, Program Executive Officer of the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command, emphasized that Vulcan's certification enhances the nation's launch capacity, resiliency, and flexibility for its most critical space-based systems. ​

Currently, SpaceX and ULA are the only two companies certified to deliver military payloads to space. The Vulcan Centaur, designed to replace ULA's Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, promises high performance and extreme accuracy for even the most challenging orbits. The two-stage system features liquid rocket engines in the first stage, while the second stage utilizes the Centaur upper stage, a component with a proven track record on other rockets. ​

Originally, ULA aimed to complete the NSSL certification process by the end of 2024. However, a setback occurred due to a failed launch in October, attributed to a manufacturing defect involving the Vulcan's Northrop Grumman-supplied solid rocket booster. With the NSSL certification now secured, Vulcan is expected to begin launching critical payloads, with 18 missions planned for this year. ​

The landscape of military space launches is becoming increasingly competitive. Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is also vying for NSSL certification, having successfully completed its first certification flight in January at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, meeting its primary goal of reaching orbit. Additionally, Rocket Lab and Relativity Space are set to begin NSSL certification with their Neutron and Terran R rockets later this year or in 2026. Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace are collaborating on the development of the Medium Launch Vehicle, expected to debut in 2026. ​

This evolving competitive environment signifies a pivotal shift in the U.S. military space launch sector, with multiple players striving to provide innovative and reliable solutions for national security missions.