The certification process faced delays due to an anomaly during a test flight in October 2024, which was attributed to a manufacturing defect in a solid rocket booster.

The United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan rocket has received certification from the US Space Force to conduct national security missions after a rigorous certification process.

This extensive certification involved meeting 52 criteria, completing over 180 tasks, and conducting two flight demonstrations.

The Vulcan certification journey began in 2016 and culminated with its first flight certification in January 2024 during the Peregrine-1 mission.

Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen highlighted that Vulcan's certification increases the launch capacity and flexibility essential for critical space-based systems.

Vulcan's first national security launch is scheduled for summer 2025, with two missions, USSF-106 and USSF-87, planned for that timeframe.

Vulcan Centaur is designed to replace ULA's older Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, enhancing capabilities for complex orbital missions.

ULA aims to establish a launch tempo of two missions per month by the end of 2025, with a target of 20 launches in 2026.

As competition in the military launch market intensifies, ULA faces challengers like Blue Origin's New Glenn and Rocket Lab's Neutron, both pursuing NSSL certification.

Before Vulcan's debut in national security missions, ULA will launch the Atlas 5 rocket carrying Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon as early as April 2025.

The Vulcan rocket can be configured with varying numbers of solid rocket boosters, enhancing its versatility for different mission profiles.

Following the investigation into the October anomaly, ULA implemented corrective actions to address the manufacturing defect, ensuring readiness for future launches.