Space Force eyes Vulcan flights without solid boosters to keep missions moving
The U.S. Space Force is evaluating whether United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket can fly without solid boosters by reworking the launch manifest to prioritize lower-energy missions (such as SDA satellite batches into LEO). This could allow some launches to proceed while the solid-booster anomaly investigation continues, though higher-energy missions would still require boosters. The move would reduce dependence on solids and impact how the Space Force structures future National Security Space Launch contracts, as SpaceX remains a key provider and Blue Origin’s New Glenn timeline remains uncertain; investigators continue with ULA and Northrop Grumman to determine the root cause and timing for any return to full Vulcan flight.