ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Compete in Satellite Launch Market

Published 2 days agoBA

ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Compete in Satellite Launch Market

United Launch Alliance (ULA), a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is set to upgrade its Vulcan rocket as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch sector. This move comes as the demand for satellite launches sees substantial growth, driven significantly by SpaceX's extensive Starlink program. ULA CEO Tory Bruno has confirmed that a comprehensive study has been conducted to ensure Vulcan's competitive edge in this market, as reported by Reuters.

A significant component of the upgrade includes a proposed "Vulcan Heavy" configuration. This would see the integration of three Vulcan boosters to boost payload capacity to LEO, thereby positioning ULA more favorably against SpaceX's selection of launch vehicles. Additionally, the U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's Vulcan rocket for launching national security satellites, which is a crucial milestone in attracting government contracts.

Boeing and ULA are poised to benefit from competitive military contracts, with significant implications for the Pentagon's National Security Space Launch program. Totaling $13.5 billion, contracts have been awarded to ULA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, marked by ULA's strategic developments with the Vulcan rocket as key to navigating this competitive landscape. This reflects Boeing's ongoing commitment to evolving ULA's capabilities to meet the increasing demands of the satellite launch market.

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