United Launch Alliance (ULA), the joint venture between aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is initiating plans to upgrade its Vulcan rocket. This strategic move aims to position the Vulcan as a formidable competitor to SpaceX's Starship within the low Earth orbit satellite launch market. Reuters reported ULA's emphasis on enhancing payload capacity through a new Vulcan variant tailored for LEO missions.
The upgrade includes exploring potential configurations such as the 'Vulcan Heavy,' which would involve integrating three core Vulcan boosters. Other unique design possibilities with unconventional propulsion setups are also under consideration. The anticipated timing for this upgraded Vulcan suggests it could be ready before SpaceX's Starship is fully operational for similar missions, potentially giving ULA a market edge.
Further highlighting ULA's significant role in space initiatives, March 2025 saw the U.S. Space Force certify the Vulcan for launching national security satellites. Moreover, in April 2025, ULA was awarded 19 critical missions valued at $5.3 billion under the U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch program. These steps affirm ULA's expanding presence in both commercial and defense-related space sectors.