US Space Force pauses national security launches on ULA Vulcan rocket due to booster glitch
Summary
The U.S. Space Force has indefinitely suspended all national security missions using United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur due to recurring anomalies with the rocket's side boosters, raising concerns about reliability and mission safety in space operations.
Key Insights
What is the Vulcan Centaur rocket and what are its solid rocket boosters?
The Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage rocket developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA), powered by two Blue Origin BE-4 methane-fueled engines on the first stage and four Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters (SRBs) that provide initial thrust after liftoff.[2][3][4]
Sources:
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What caused the Space Force to pause Vulcan launches and how did the rocket handle the recent anomaly?
The U.S. Space Force paused national security missions on Vulcan due to recurring solid rocket booster nozzle anomalies, including a visible burn-through and brighter exhaust on the USSF-87 mission on February 12, 2026, similar to an issue in October 2024; the core stage BE-4 engines compensated, allowing successful payload delivery to orbit despite asymmetric thrust and vehicle roll.[1][2][4]