ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrades to Challenge SpaceX's Starship

Published 5 hours agoLMT

ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrades to Challenge SpaceX's Starship

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the joint venture by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is gearing up to enhance its Vulcan rocket, aiming to bolster its competitiveness against SpaceX's ambitious Starship. Reuters reported that one of the potential upgrades includes a 'Vulcan Heavy' variant. This adaptation would combine three core boosters to significantly increase the payload capacity for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launches, a move expected to enhance ULA's position in this competitive market.

In addition to the Vulcan Heavy concept, ULA is exploring other propulsion innovations that involve placing engines in unconventional locations to boost the rocket's performance. The company aims for the upgraded version's readiness to coincide with when SpaceX's Starship becomes commercially significant for large-scale LEO projects, which could still be some time off. Furthermore, ULA has already secured multiple missions with Amazon to deploy its Kuiper internet satellites, making strides in the competitive field of satellite internet, where SpaceX's Starlink is a leader.

ULA's Vulcan rocket, powered by Blue Origin engines, is crafted to meet the Pentagon's mission needs and is being strategically adapted to capture more of the commercial satellite launch market. These efforts indicate ULA's proactive approach to enhance its offerings and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving aerospace landscape.

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