ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Compete with SpaceX

Published 13 hours agoBA

ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrade to Compete with SpaceX

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has announced its plans to upgrade the Vulcan rocket. This move is designed to enhance the rocket's capabilities in the competitive low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch market, specifically to rival SpaceX's Starship. The company's initiative includes developing a Vulcan variant with increased payload capacity and potential new configurations, such as a 'Vulcan Heavy' with three core boosters.

Key details of this development reveal that ULA is considering innovative designs in propulsion to boost competitiveness. While the timeline for the new Vulcan variant is aligned with the expected commercial viability of SpaceX's Starship for large-scale LEO deployments, it could be several years before these enhancements come to fruition. Additionally, the U.S. Space Force has certified the current Vulcan rocket for national security missions, putting ULA in a favorable position to compete for Pentagon contracts, Reuters reported.

The strategic upgrade of the Vulcan rocket underscores ULA's efforts to secure its place in the satellite launch market, where SpaceX has gained significant ground with its Starlink service. Boeing's involvement in the venture highlights its commitment to adapting to the shifting demands of the space industry. ULA's enhanced capabilities are aimed at offering a competitive alternative to SpaceX's dominance.

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