Space Force certifies Vulcan Centaur for national-security launches

United Launch Alliance/Vulcan Centaur

The US Space Force certified ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket for national-security missions on March 26, 2025, after completing two certification flights in 2024. The certification covered 52 criteria including 180+ discrete tasks, 60 payload-interface verifications, 18 subsystem reviews, and 114 audits. Until then SpaceX was the only certified provider, giving the Pentagon a second launcher for critical payloads.

• Certification completed March 26, 2025, after two 2024 certification flights.
• 52 certification criteria: 180+ tasks, 60 payload verifications, 18 subsystem reviews, 114 hardware/software audits.
• October 2024 flight had minor mishap (booster nozzle fell off mid-flight), later resolved.
• SpaceX was sole certified provider until this approval; Vulcan now provides Pentagon redundancy for national-security launches.