Vulcan – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch second accelerated GPS 3 satellite mission in late May

April 8, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This mission follows a similar model of processing used during the Rapid Response Trailblazer (RRT-1) mission, which saw the launch of the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 (SV-07) spacecraft on a Falcon 9 instead of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket as originally planned.

U.S. Space Force awards $13.7 billion in new national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA

April 5, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The 54 national security missions will be awarded over the course of five years spanning FY25-FY29. The U.S. Space Force said missions are anticipated to fly from FY27-FY32.

U.S. Space Force certifies ULA’s Vulcan rocket to begin launching national security missions

March 27, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The conclusion of certification closes out a process that began in September 2016 and saw the government closely track the development of Vulcan alongside United Launch Alliance. Its first National Security Space Launch mission is targeting liftoff over the summer.

ULA begins de-stacking Vulcan rocket, pivots to Atlas 5 launch of Amazon’s Kuiper satellites for first 2025 mission

February 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The change in manifest comes as the U.S. Space Force’s Assured Access to Space continues the certification process for the Vulcan rocket. United Launch Alliance will begin stacking an Atlas rocket in the coming weeks.

Space Force says first national security Vulcan launch now anticipated in spring 2025

December 18, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The first mission for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket as part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract will be USSF-106. ULA began stacking the rocket that will support this mission in October 2024.

U.S. Space Force launches expedited GPS mission using Falcon 9 rocket

December 17, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) shifted the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 spacecraft to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket due to delays in Vulcan’s certification.

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.

ULA begins stacking Vulcan rocket in anticipation of first national security mission

October 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The USSF-106 mission will be the first launch of the Vulcan rocket once it receives certification to support missions on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense. A launch date has not yet been announced for the third Vulcan flight.

Live coverage: ULA to launch second test flight of its Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral

October 3, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, dubbed Cert-2 by United Launch Alliance, is the final mission required before the rocket can begin launching national security missions. Liftoff is set for the beginning of a three-hour window at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).

ULA rolls its Vulcan rocket to the launch pad ahead of second test flight

September 30, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The return of a Vulcan rocket to the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 comes as United Launch Alliance steps closer to being able to launch national security missions for the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is set for Friday, Oct. 4, during a three-hour launch window that opens at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).