United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket has shown it can tackle challenges head-on. On February 12, 2024, it completed its fourth launch, sending two spy satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space Force. While most of the mission went smoothly, there was a minor setback.
“Early in flight, we noticed a significant performance issue with one of the four solid rocket motors. However, both the Vulcan booster and Centaur upper stage performed well, and we successfully reached geosynchronous orbit,” said Gary Wentz, ULA’s vice president of Atlas and Vulcan Programs, in a statement.
The ULA team is currently reviewing data and images to understand the anomaly. They are forming a recovery team to analyze any debris found. “We aim to identify the root cause and take corrective steps before the next Vulcan mission,” Wentz added.
The Vulcan Centaur, which debuted in January 2024, succeeds the long-standing Atlas V rocket. It features a Vulcan core stage and a Centaur upper stage, accompanied by up to six strap-on solid rocket boosters made by Northrop Grumman.
In its first launch, the rocket successfully deployed the Peregrine lunar lander, although that spacecraft experienced its own issues and crashed back to Earth. The Vulcan’s second flight in October 2024 aimed to certify it for national security missions. During that mission, it dealt with another solid rocket booster anomaly early in the flight. Despite this, the rocket adjusted quickly and reached its target orbit.
ULA conducted an investigation after that flight and discovered that a manufacturing defect had caused an SRB nozzle to detach during the launch. Despite this setback, the Space Force certified the Vulcan for national security missions in March 2025, allowing it to complete its first such mission in August, where it successfully delivered a navigation satellite to geosynchronous orbit, situated 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above Earth.
As for the latest SRB issue, it’s too early to say how it will affect future missions. ULA is conducting a thorough inquiry, and the Space Force is closely monitoring the situation. Their System Delta 80 team at Cape Canaveral will collaborate with ULA to ensure the Vulcan’s safety in upcoming national security launches.
Expert opinions emphasize the importance of these investigations. Aerospace consultant John Logsdon notes, “Each anomaly provides an opportunity to improve functionality. Learning from challenges ensures better performance in future missions.” This proactive approach could make the Vulcan Centaur even more reliable as it continues to evolve in the competitive landscape of space exploration.
In a broader context, space technology has evolved significantly over the past few decades. The challenges faced by rockets today are often met with innovative solutions that weren’t available in the past. A recent survey showed that 78% of space industry professionals believe that continuous learning from failures is crucial for progress in aerospace technology.
As the investigation unfolds, it will provide valuable insights not only for ULA but also for the entire aerospace sector. The space race isn’t just about reaching the stars—it’s about learning every step of the way.
