Space Force weighs Vulcan flights without solid boosters
The US Space Force is considering flying United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket without solid boosters to keep some missions on schedule despite a grounding due to a performance anomaly. The move could allow lower-energy missions to proceed while the investigation into the anomaly continues.
The US Space Force is exploring alternatives for United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, currently grounded due to a performance anomaly in one of its solid rocket boosters during the Feb. 12 USSF-87 mission. The anomaly prompted a joint investigation with ULA, with no clear timeline for the rocket's return to flight. The Space Force is evaluating whether Vulcan can fly missions without the solid boosters, which are central to the investigation. Lower-energy missions, such as launching satellites into low Earth orbit, could potentially fly without boosters. The disruption has implications for the Pentagon's launch service procurement, with the two-provider model collapsing into reliance on SpaceX. The experience is likely to shape the next round of National Security Space Launch contracts.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.