ULA Gears Up for Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Challenge SpaceX

Published 1 days agoLMT

ULA Gears Up for Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Challenge SpaceX

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is set to enhance its Vulcan rocket to better compete with SpaceX's Starship in the crowded low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch market. This strategic upgrade focuses on developing a Vulcan variant specifically optimized for LEO missions, addressing the increasing demand in this sector, Reuters reported.

Part of the upgrade considerations for the Vulcan rocket includes exploring a 'Vulcan Heavy' variant, which would involve three core boosters. ULA is also evaluating novel design configurations that feature unconventional propulsion systems. This comes in response to SpaceX's stronghold on the LEO market, driven largely by its own Starlink satellite launches.

In addition to these enhancements, ULA's Vulcan rocket received certification from the U.S. Space Force to launch national security satellites, underscoring its significant role in defense operations. Impressively, ULA secured 19 missions worth $5.3 billion under the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch program, which extends through 2029. These developments position ULA as a formidable player in what seems to be a long-term commitment to maintaining competitive capabilities against leading innovators like SpaceX.

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