U.S. Space Force Now Using ULA Vulcan As Well As SpaceX Rockets

On August 12, 2025, the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed-Martin and Boeing, launched a Vulcan rocket in its first mission for the U.S. Space Force. The Vulcan is ULA’s answer to the SpaceX Falcon 9 and a successor to the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets used in previous missions.

Vulcan, also known as the Vulcan Centaur, uses the BE-4 engines developed by Blue Origin for its first stage. Its second stage is the Centaur rocket previously used on Atlas V launches. First conceived in 2015, it has taken a long time to get to certification for use by the U.S. Space Force. ULA plans to use the Vulcan as its primary launch vehicle going forward.

Is Vulcan as reusable as the Falcon 9? Not at present and likely for the foreseeable future. ULA has a different reusability strategy than SpaceX. Whereas SpaceX recovers the entire first stage of Falcon 9 launches, ULA is testing what it calls a SMART reuse system to recover and reuse the BE-4 engines, which the company states represents two-thirds of the first stage booster cost.

SMART is designed to detach the BE-4 engines after first-stage separation and protect them with an inflatable heat shield and parachute system for ocean recovery. No date for the first SMART test has been announced. ULA notes that SMART is the key to the company reducing its launch costs and increasing launch frequency.

Meanwhile, as of August 13, 2025, SpaceX has launched 525 Falcon 9s and 11 of the larger Falcon Heavy. Of these, 498 were designed for booster recovery, with SpaceX succeeding 485 times. One Falcon 9 booster has flown 29 times. Booster recovery and refurbishment improvements continue to drive down launch costs and increase the turnaround to accelerate launch frequency. In 2025, SpaceX launched Falcon 9s 96 times, with its likely year-end total between 160 and 170. Refurbishment between launches is down to 9 days with relaunches every 14.

ULA’s hopes to achieve a similar level of success remain far from reality. The current schedule calls for five more launches of Vulcan and Atlas V boosters this year, with plans to launch twice monthly in 2026 and 2027.

Where ULA hopes to have a competitive edge in the future is with its second stage Centaur. The company plans to use the Centaur as a space tug for servicing satellites and is working with Blue Origin to develop an orbital refuelling demo mission for the U.S. Space Force sometime in 2026.

Another competitor is also pushing its way into the field. It is Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket which has been designed for booster reusability and second-stage tug services. Because New Glenn uses BE-4 engines on its booster stage, it appears that an alliance may be shaping up with ULA, although both companies are working on parallel technologies to compete with SpaceX’s launch business.

Both companies have their work cut out for them. SpaceX currently charges US$67 million for each Falcon 9 launch, with current costs between $15 and 17 million. The company also offers a Falcon 9 satellite ride-share program, charging as little as $325,000 for 50-kilogram (120-pound) and cubesat payloads.

This is a business that ULA wants but cannot get with its current costs. The Atlas V launch price varies from $109 to 153 million. Vulcan pricing is currently at an estimated $100 million. ULA’s costs per rocket vary from $70 to 90 million. That’s why without reusability, ULA cannot compete with SpaceX. Only the legacy relationships it has  with NASA, the U.S. Space Force and other branches of the Department of Defence represent the way the company can continue to be in the launch business. Reusability will change this.