ULA's Vulcan Centaur Certified for National Security Missions Amid Space Force Budget Concerns

The U.S. Space Force has certified United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket for national security missions, joining SpaceX in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. This certification follows data analysis from two launches in 2024 and corrective actions addressing a nozzle incident during the second launch. ULA anticipates a dozen launches this year, split between Atlas and Vulcan rockets, serving both national security and commercial purposes. Meanwhile, the Space Force faces budget constraints, with a continuing resolution allocating less funding than requested. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, expressed concerns about maintaining pace with growing threats from China and Russia in space. Despite budget challenges, the Pentagon recognizes space as a critical warfighting domain, potentially mitigating significant funding reductions in the upcoming 2026 budget realignment.