Introduction
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has reached a significant milestone with its Vulcan rocket, securing certification from the United States Space Force for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. This approval, finalized on March 26, 2025, marks the end of a rigorous testing and evaluation process that began years ago. This achievement means the Vulcan rocket is now trusted to carry sensitive military satellites into space, ensuring the nation’s defense capabilities remain strong. The journey to this point involved multiple test flights, detailed reviews, and a focus on reliability, all of which highlight ULA’s efforts to replace its older rocket systems with a modern, capable alternative.
The Path to Certification
The Vulcan rocket’s certification process required ULA to demonstrate its reliability through two key test flights. The first, known as Cert-1, took place on January 8, 2024. During this mission, the rocket successfully launched a lunar lander, though the lander itself encountered issues after reaching space. The rocket’s performance, however, met expectations, providing a solid foundation for the next step. The second flight, Cert-2, occurred on October 4, 2024. This mission carried a dummy payload instead of an operational satellite, allowing ULA to test the rocket’s systems under real flight conditions. Despite a minor issue with one of the solid rocket boosters, the Vulcan still achieved its intended orbit, proving its ability to handle challenges.
Beyond these flights, certification involved a thorough evaluation of the rocket’s design, manufacturing, and performance. The Space Force examined over 50 specific standards, including how the rocket interfaces with payloads, the strength of its subsystems, and the quality of its hardware and software. This detailed review ensured the Vulcan could meet the demanding needs of national security missions, which often require precise orbits and flawless execution.
Why Certification Matters
National security launches are a big responsibility. These missions involve placing satellites into orbit that support military communications, navigation, and surveillance—tools the United States relies on for defense and global operations. The Space Force needs launch providers it can count on, and certification is the stamp of approval that says a rocket is up to the task. For ULA, this approval opens the door to a backlog of at least 25 planned NSSL missions, with the first two, labeled USSF-106 and USSF-87, already in preparation at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Vulcan’s certification also signals a shift for ULA. The company has historically depended on its Atlas V and Delta IV rockets for these launches. However, those older systems are being phased out—the Delta IV Heavy flew its final mission in April 2024, and the Atlas V has only a handful of launches left. The Vulcan steps in as a replacement, designed to handle the same jobs with updated technology and a focus on cost efficiency.
The Vulcan Rocket: A Quick Look
The Vulcan rocket stands about 109 feet tall and uses a combination of powerful engines to get into space. Its first stage, the main body that lifts off from the ground, is powered by two BE-4 engines made by Blue Origin. These engines run on liquid methane and oxygen, a modern choice that differs from the Russian-built engines used in the Atlas V. Attached to the first stage are solid rocket boosters—up to six can be added depending on the mission—which provide extra thrust during liftoff. The upper stage, called Centaur V, uses a different engine to fine-tune the rocket’s path once it’s in space, ensuring payloads reach their exact destinations.
This design makes the Vulcan versatile. It can carry heavy satellites to high orbits or lighter ones to lower ones, adapting to whatever the Space Force needs. The rocket’s development began in 2014, driven by a need to move away from foreign engines and compete with newer players like SpaceX, which has been launching national security missions with its Falcon rockets since 2019.
The BE-4 Engine: Powering the Vulcan
At the heart of the Vulcan rocket’s first stage are two BE-4 engines, built by Blue Origin, a company founded by Jeff Bezos. These engines are a key piece of the Vulcan’s design, providing the thrust needed to lift off and climb into space. Each BE-4 generates about 550,000 pounds of thrust, making them some of the most powerful engines of their kind. Unlike the engines in ULA’s older Atlas V rocket, which relied on Russian technology, the BE-4 is American-made, using liquid methane and liquid oxygen as fuel. This choice reflects a push for domestic production and offers practical benefits like easier storage and handling compared to other fuels.
Developing the BE-4 wasn’t a quick process. Blue Origin began work on it in 2011, and ULA chose it for the Vulcan in 2014. Early on, there were setbacks—testing took longer than planned, and the first flight-ready engines weren’t delivered until 2022. These delays rippled into the Vulcan’s timeline, pushing its debut from 2019 to 2024. Still, the wait paid off. The BE-4 performed well during the Cert-1 and Cert-2 flights, proving it could handle the demands of real launches. Its design also allows the Vulcan to adjust power based on the mission, pairing with solid rocket boosters to lift everything from lightweight satellites to heavy military payloads. For ULA, the BE-4 represents a step toward independence and a reliable future in spaceflight.
Challenges Along the Way
Getting the Vulcan ready hasn’t been a straight path. Delays pushed its first launch from an original target of 2019 to 2024. One major hurdle was the development of the BE-4 engines, which took longer than expected. Another setback came in March 2023, when the Centaur V upper stage exploded during testing, forcing ULA to adjust its timeline. Even during the Cert-2 flight, a nozzle on one of the solid rocket boosters broke off mid-flight. While this didn’t derail the mission, it required extra analysis to ensure the rocket could still perform reliably.
Payload issues added to the delays. The Cert-1 mission waited on the lunar lander’s readiness, and the Cert-2 flight originally planned to carry Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spacecraft. When Dream Chaser wasn’t ready, ULA switched to a dummy payload to keep the schedule on track. These adjustments show the balancing act ULA faced between testing the rocket and meeting customer timelines.
What’s Next for Vulcan
With certification in hand, ULA is gearing up for its first NSSL missions. The USSF-106 flight will carry a navigation satellite and another payload, while USSF-87 will launch satellites to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit—a region far from Earth where many military assets operate. Both missions are expected in the coming months, with hardware already at the launch site. Looking ahead, the Vulcan is set to fly 11 national security missions in 2025, outpacing SpaceX’s seven planned launches with its Falcon rockets.
Beyond military work, the Vulcan has commercial potential. ULA has 38 launches lined up for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a satellite internet network, though those depend on Amazon finishing its satellites. The company is also building more Vulcan rockets at its factory in Decatur, Alabama, with several already in progress to meet this growing demand.
Summary
The Vulcan rocket’s certification for national security launches is a big step for ULA and the Space Force. After years of development, two test flights, and a detailed review process, the rocket is ready to take on missions that keep the nation secure. It replaces older systems with a modern design, overcoming delays and technical hiccups along the way. Now, with a busy schedule of military and commercial launches ahead, the Vulcan is poised to play a key role in America’s space efforts, blending reliability with the flexibility to meet diverse needs.
Appendix: ULA Launch Timetable for 2025
Below is an timetable of all missions planned by United Launch Alliance (ULA) for 2025, encompassing both Vulcan Centaur and Atlas V launches. This schedule includes payloads and customers, reflecting ULA’s full manifest as of March 26, 2025. Given that exact dates for many launches remain fluid due to factors like certification, payload readiness, and launch site availability, the schedule uses estimated timeframes (e.g., quarters or months) where specific dates are not yet set. The timetable accounts for ULA’s stated goal of 20 launches in 2025—split roughly evenly between Vulcan and Atlas V—while incorporating recent shifts, such as the de-stacking of a Vulcan rocket in February 2025 to prioritize an Atlas V launch for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. It also reflects the transition from Atlas V to Vulcan for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions following Vulcan’s certification.
Delays, like those seen with the BE-4 engine or payload schedules, could shift some missions, but the cadence aligns with ULA’s infrastructure upgrades and production capacity.
Q1 2025 (January–March)
- Mission: Kuiper-1
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: Production satellites for Project Kuiper (up to 27 satellites)
- Customer: Amazon
- Details: Initially planned for Q4 2024, this mission slipped to early 2025. ULA de-stacked a Vulcan rocket in February 2025 to prioritize this Atlas V launch, marking the first deployment of Amazon’s satellite internet constellation. Launch expected in March from Cape Canaveral.
Q2 2025 (April–June)
- Mission: USSF-106
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) and an additional unspecified payload
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Vulcan’s first NSSL mission post-certification, expected by April or May. NTS-3 tests advanced GPS technology. Hardware is at Cape Canaveral.
- Mission: GPS III-08
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: GPS III Space Vehicle 08
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Eighth of ten GPS III satellites to modernize navigation systems. Likely in June, as Atlas V continues supporting GPS missions before Vulcan takes over.
- Mission: Kuiper-2
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Production satellites for Project Kuiper (up to 45 satellites)
- Customer: Amazon
- Details: First Vulcan Kuiper launch, following Kuiper-1. Tentative for late Q2, depending on Amazon’s satellite production and Vulcan’s NSSL priority.
Q3 2025 (July–September)
- Mission: USSF-87
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Classified satellites for geosynchronous orbit monitoring
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Second NSSL mission, targeting July or August. Monitors objects in geosynchronous orbit. Rocket components are ready, following USSF-106.
- Mission: GPS III-09
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: GPS III Space Vehicle 09
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Ninth GPS III satellite, expected in September. One of the final Atlas V launches for this program.
- Mission: Kuiper-3
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Production satellites for Project Kuiper (up to 45 satellites)
- Customer: Amazon
- Details: Third Kuiper batch, likely in late Q3, as ULA balances commercial and NSSL flights.
Q4 2025 (October–December)
- Mission: Dream Chaser Maiden Flight
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Dream Chaser cargo vehicle
- Customer: Sierra Space (for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services)
- Details: Uncrewed ISS resupply mission, delayed from Cert-2 in 2024. Targeted for October or November, pending Sierra Space’s readiness.
- Mission: USSF-112
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Classified payload
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Third NSSL mission, expected in November. Details remain undisclosed, typical of Space Force launches.
- Mission: GPS III-10
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: GPS III Space Vehicle 10
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Final GPS III satellite, likely December. Marks the end of Atlas V’s role in this program.
- Mission: WGS-11
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: Wideband Global SATCOM 11
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: Last of the WGS series for military communications, planned for late Q4. One of Atlas V’s final national security missions.
Throughout 2025 (Specific Dates TBD)
- Additional NSSL Missions (Up to 8 more Vulcan launches)
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Various classified military satellites
- Customer: U.S. Space Force
- Details: ULA plans 11 NSSL launches total, with USSF-106, USSF-87, and USSF-112 confirmed. The remaining eight will support defense needs (e.g., communications, surveillance) at a cadence of roughly one per month after Q2.
- Additional Kuiper Launches (Up to 3 more Vulcan launches)
- Rocket: Vulcan Centaur
- Payload: Production satellites for Project Kuiper (up to 45 per launch)
- Customer: Amazon
- Details: Beyond Kuiper-1, -2, and -3, ULA aims to launch additional batches, with 38 total Kuiper missions contracted. Likely 2–3 more in 2025, depending on production.
- Commercial or Secondary Payloads (Up to 3 Atlas V launches)
- Rocket: Atlas V
- Payload: Various (e.g., ViaSat-3, commercial satellites, or rideshares)
- Customer: Commercial clients or government agencies
- Details: Atlas V’s remaining 10–12 launches before retirement include GPS, WGS, and Kuiper-1. Up to three could be commercial, such as ViaSat-3 (postponed from prior years), spread across the year.
