On the brink of its first Vulcan rocket launch of the year, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has big plans. They aim to launch between 18 and 22 times in 2026. Gary Wentz, ULA’s VP, shared details during a media roundtable. The schedule includes two to four Atlas 5 missions and around 16 to 18 Vulcan missions from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Wentz emphasized that ULA is working closely with customers to prioritize missions, especially for the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Over the next six to eight months, they’ll finalize which missions will use the Atlas or Vulcan rockets.
The interim CEO, John Elbon, highlighted a strong commitment from their clients. ULA has a backlog of over 80 missions, including a significant contract from Amazon for 47 launches to deploy its broadband internet satellites, known as Amazon Leo. This year includes 38 scheduled Vulcan launches along with four Atlas 5 flights.
Regarding national security missions under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts, Wentz revealed plans for several missions this year:
At SLC-41:
- USSF-87
- GPS III-8
- USSF-57
- NROL-64
At SLC-3:
- Tranche 1 Tracking Layer for the Space Development Agency
- Unspecified NRO mission
- Additional mission later in the year
As for the upcoming Boeing Starliner-1 mission, Wentz confirmed it’s on the manifest for launch in April. He mentioned that if crew flights are approved, a crewed mission could happen in late October or November.
In recent years, ULA faced challenges with its launch rates, totaling just five missions in 2024 and six in 2025. An anomaly with the solid rocket boosters during a previous Vulcan flight caused delays. Fortunately, Elbon noted they’ve moved past those issues. The Vulcan rocket is ready, and new facilities, like the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-G), will support higher launch rates.
The new VIF-G is meant for government missions, while VIF-A will focus on Amazon’s Vulcan launches. This infrastructure is crucial for meeting their ambitious launch targets.
Notably, ULA is also experiencing a leadership transition. With the departure of former CEO Tory Bruno, Elbon is stepping in temporarily while they search for a new leader. Elbon praised Bruno for his transformative years at ULA and expressed confidence in the company’s strong engineering and production teams.
As the space industry evolves, ULA’s focus on reliability and an increased launch pace reflects a bigger trend in the sector. A recent report indicated that satellite launches are expected to grow significantly, driven by demand for global internet connectivity and national security needs. This rising trend offers insight into why companies like ULA are ramping up their activities.
In a time where advanced technology is essential, ULA is positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of space exploration and satellite deployment. As they work toward their ambitious goals, all eyes will be on upcoming launches and the innovations that follow.
