National Security Space Launch

ULA launches Vulcan rocket on first Space Force mission

August 13, 2025 William Harwood

Equipped with four solid-fuel strap-on boosters for additional takeoff power, the 198-foot-tall Vulcan’s two methane-fueled BE-4 engines thundered to life at 8:56p.m. EDT, instantly propelling the rocket away from pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

ULA’s Vulcan rocket in “final phase” of certification, awaiting first national security launch date

November 3, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Vulcan completed the second of two planned certification mission on Oct. 4. ULA began stacking the rocket for the USSF-106 mission on Oct. 21.

Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser prepares for pre-launch journey to the Cape

May 14, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Many eyes are on both the payload and the rocket as the Department of Defense awaits its turn to launch missions with ULA’s Vulcan rocket.

‘Cleanest first flight,’ ULA president reflects on inaugural Vulcan launch and future of program

February 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno described the first flight of the Vulcan launch as remarkable in his career. He said hardware for Vulcan’s next flight will head down to Florida soon.

Penultimate Delta rocket to launch next month on ULA’s first mission of 2023

March 22, 2023 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance’s second-to-last Delta 4-Heavy rocket is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral April 20 with a classified cargo for the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency, a mission that will mark ULA’s first flight of the year, officials announced this week.