Vulcan launches first operational flight

A successful first national security payload launch signals the Vulcan program’s move into routine operations, with questions about cost and cadence ahead.

Vulcan rocket enters service after first operational flight

ULA launched the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 8:56 pm EDT on Tuesday, carrying USSF-106. The lift used two BE-4 engines supplied by Blue Origin and four Northrop Grumman solid boosters, delivering nearly 3 million pounds of thrust. After liftoff, the boosters and core stage separated and the Centaur upper stage fired multiple times to place the payloads into a near geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator. The mission marked Vulcan’s first flight carrying national security payloads and included a satellite testing next generation GPS technologies. Additional satellites were aboard but not publicly disclosed.

This launch signals a shift from development to operations for the Vulcan program and comes as the United Launch Alliance works through a backlog of more than 70 Vulcan launches under contract with the Space Force and Amazon for Kuiper. The mission highlighted collaboration across defense and industry, with officials noting the milestone as a step toward broader strategic space lift.

The milestone tests more than the rocket itself; it tests the industrial base that builds, services, and scales a new launch system. The Vulcan program depends on BE-4 engines from Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman boosters, creating supplier risk if production slows or costs rise. A backlog of launches places pressure on schedule and budget planning, even as customers press for cadence.

If Vulcan can sustain a steady pace, it could influence how the Space Force buys space lift and how private partners like Kuiper participate in national security missions. Critics may point to cost growth, governance, and the political optics of backing a new launcher in a crowded procurement landscape. The outcome will shape public debate about space infrastructure and defense budgeting for years to come.

Highlights

The road ahead will test cost, cadence, and credibility.