The U.S. Space Force has paused all national security launches using the Vulcan Centaur rocket due to recurring issues with its solid rocket boosters. This decision follows a malfunction that occurred during the rocket’s most recent mission on February 12, 2024. The United Launch Alliance (ULA), which developed the Vulcan Centaur, has conducted four launches since the rocket’s debut in January 2024, with two of those missions encountering similar anomalies.
During the recent USSF-87 mission, which involved the deployment of two reconnaissance satellites for the United States’ Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), a visible anomaly occurred approximately 20 seconds after liftoff. Although Vulcan’s core-stage engines successfully compensated for the issue, the Space Force has expressed concerns about the reliability of the rocket.
Investigation and Future Launches
Col. Eric Zarybnisky, a representative of the Space Force, indicated that the investigation into the booster anomaly will be extensive. “This is going to be a many-months process as we work through the exact technical issue that happened and the corrective actions we need to take to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he stated during a media roundtable at the Air Force Association’s Warfare Symposium on February 25, 2024.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket faced a similar problem during its national security payload certification launch in October 2024, when a manufacturing defect caused one of the solid rocket booster nozzles to detach, resulting in a brief deviation from its intended trajectory. ULA is currently conducting an investigation to determine the specific cause of the anomaly encountered during the USSF-87 launch.
Zarybnisky emphasized, “Until this anomaly is solved we will not be launching Vulcan missions.” This grounding is particularly significant for ULA, which has booked the Vulcan Centaur for over two dozen national security launches in the coming years. The pause could disrupt ULA’s plans during a challenging period for the company.
Leadership Changes at ULA
The situation comes at a time when ULA is already navigating internal changes. The company’s long-time CEO, Tory Bruno, resigned at the end of 2025 to take a position as president of national security at competitor Blue Origin. This leadership transition adds another layer of complexity for ULA as it addresses technical challenges with the Vulcan Centaur.
As the investigation continues, the U.S. Space Force remains focused on ensuring the reliability and safety of its launch vehicles. The outcome of this inquiry will be crucial not only for ULA’s future operations but also for the broader landscape of national security launches in the United States.
