Space Force monitors ULA investigation into upper-stage anomaly.

The US Space Force is closely monitoring the investigation into the anomaly experienced by United Launch Alliance (ULA) during testing of the Centaur upper stage of its new rocket, Vulcan Centaur. ULA had announced a May 4 target date for Vulcan’s first launch, but ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno now says it looks like Vulcan will not be ready until at least June or July. Vulcan needs to complete two orbital missions successfully to get certified to launch US military and intelligence satellites under the National Security Space Launch program. The Space Force was expecting Vulcan to launch its first national security mission in late 2023, but that now appears unlikely.