United Launch Alliance Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Challenge SpaceX

Published 10 days agoBA

United Launch Alliance Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Challenge SpaceX

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to enhance its Vulcan rocket to better position itself in the competitive low Earth orbit market, primarily driven by SpaceX's satellite deployment strategies like Starlink. The upgraded design aims to increase payload capacity, helping ULA compete with SpaceX's powerful Starship and its ability to transport significant mass to low Earth orbit.

According to Space News, ULA's Vulcan Centaur, which already completes heavy-lift missions with capabilities up to 27,200 kg to LEO using six solid rocket boosters, lacks reusability but remains competitive with cost efficiency. The upgrades might include a 'Vulcan Heavy' configuration utilizing multiple core boosters. This initiative seeks to confront challenges posed by SpaceX's dominance in terms of cost-effectiveness and market share.

Looking forward, ULA has scheduled several launches for 2025, including deployments for Amazon's Kuiper satellite network and the U.S. Space Force. Although certification for these launches by the Space Force faced delays due to a previous anomaly, the certification was eventually secured in March 2025. ULA's strategy centers on leveraging Vulcan's cost-effectiveness across various orbits while enhancing versatility to consolidate its market position.

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