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Vulcan Grounding May Delay Space Force Launches

March 26, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

ULA's Vulcan heavy lifter is grounded due to a performance anomaly.
Several Space Force and NRO missions may be delayed or reassigned.
Affected missions include Next-Gen GEO and Wideband Global SATCOM-11+.

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Strategic Implications

The grounding of Vulcan may indicate a significant disruption to the US space launch schedule, which could have implications for national security and the competitiveness of US launch providers. The potential reassignment of missions to other launch providers suggests a shift in the balance of power in the industry, which may benefit SpaceX and other competitors.

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What Happened

Launch Delays Loom For Critical Space Force Missions

The grounding of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan heavy lifter due to a performance anomaly may result in launch delays and/or reassignments to other launch providers for multiple upcoming Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) missions. According to Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, Space Force deputy chief of operations, the service is still assessing the impacts, but several launches, including the first Next-Gen GEO and Wideband Global SATCOM-11+, may be affected. The Space Force has already shifted the planned Vulcan launch of the final GPS III series satellite to a SpaceX Falcon 9. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.

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