Space Force Halts All Military Launches Due To Mysterious Rocket Anomaly

The Space Force has put all military launches on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket on hold while officials investigate an anomaly that could take “many months” to resolve. This pause affects plans for a GPS III satellite slated to fly on the new rocket next month, according to Col. Eric Zarybnisky, program executive officer for assured access to space.

Zarybnisky emphasized the need for flexibility in delivering warfighter capability as quickly as possible. He acknowledged that the investigation into the anomaly could lead to various options being considered, but no decisions have been made yet about switching payloads to other rockets like ULA’s Atlas V or SpaceX’s Falcon 9.

The anomaly occurred on February 12 during the Space Force’s USSF-87 mission, which carried two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites and a training and demonstration satellite for Combat Forces Command. The launch was successful, but ULA observed an issue with one of the vehicle’s four solid rocket motors following liftoff. Gary Wentz, ULA’s Vice President for Atlas and Vulcan programs, characterized it as a “significant performance anomaly.”

This incident is similar to another issue experienced by ULA during a Vulcan test launch in October 2024, when a nozzle on its second-stage booster cracked during flight. While officials have not confirmed a link between the two incidents, they are taking precautions to ensure the safety of future launches.

Vulcan had been scheduled to launch seven national security payloads this year, including the GPS III mission and the Space Force’s first Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite in May. However, with the current pause, plans for these missions are uncertain.

The Space Force has experience shifting missions between SpaceX and ULA rockets through an effort called Rapid Response Trailblazer. This program allows the service to move GPS satellites to different launch vehicles, making it easier to adapt to changing launch schedules.

Col. Andrew Menschner, deputy commander at SSC, explained that because GPS satellites are qualified to fly on multiple vendors’ rockets, it’s simpler to switch between them. “The ability to switch from one provider to another is present in those vehicles that just isn’t in some of the other families of vehicles,” he said.

Despite the pause, ULA remains committed to delivering warfighter capability as quickly as possible. The company has a backlog of over 80 missions and plans to increase its launch cadence in 2026.

United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket is still expected to fly its second national security mission this year, nearly six months after its first operational launch and almost a year after it was certified to launch military payloads for the Space Force. The company announced that the mission, dubbed USSF-87, will lift off on February 2 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida.

Vulcan’s long-awaited second military mission follows a challenging 2025 for ULA, which fell short of its projections. It also comes amid the high-profile departure of CEO Tory Bruno, who announced his resignation to lead national security programs at Blue Origin, a direct competitor to ULA.

Bruno’s departure may impact ULA’s plans for Vulcan, but the company is confident in its ability to move forward. John Elbon, ULA’s interim CEO, said the firm is “laser-focused” on increasing Vulcan’s cadence in 2026 and has a strong commitment from its board to make it happen.

However, experts warn that ULA faces significant challenges ahead, including competition from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Todd Harrison, a senior defense fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said ULA’s decision not to make Vulcan reusable from the start put the company at risk, making it difficult for the rocket to compete.

Todd Harrison also noted that Bruno’s departure may be a strategic move by Blue Origin, as the company is now in a position to extract value from ULA’s leadership without the cost of its legacy workforce and aging infrastructure. Caleb Henry, director of research at analytics firm Quilty Space, said Bruno’s success in leading ULA through a rapidly changing launch market is laudable, but the company has a long road ahead.

One challenge facing ULA is scaling the rocket’s production and increasing its launch cadence to meet demand from customers. Last year, Vulcan was targeted to launch 10 missions, but flew only once following a malfunction during its second certification flight in October 2024.

As the Space Force continues to investigate the anomaly on Vulcan, it remains to be seen how this will impact the company’s plans for the rocket. One thing is clear: ULA must navigate these challenges and uncertainties to remain competitive in the launch market.

With several new rockets expected to debut this year, including Rocket Lab’s Neutron, Stoke Space’s Aurora, Firefly’s Alpha, and Relativity’s Terran Mark 2, the competition for military space contracts will only intensify. SpaceX remains the dominant player in the national security market, with a projected 28 missions under its contract.

Despite these challenges, ULA has a chance to prove itself as a viable alternative to SpaceX. The company has a new, proven vehicle rolling off the line, and experts say that 2026 and 2027 will be pivotal years to determine who secures the spot as the next “mainstay” heavy launch vehicle provider.

The Space Force’s decision to pause Vulcan launches highlights the importance of safety and reliability in the military space program. As the investigation into the anomaly continues, officials are taking a cautious approach to ensure that future launches do not experience similar issues.

In the end, ULA must adapt its strategy to meet changing market conditions while maintaining its commitment to delivering warfighter capability. With its experienced leadership and proven technology, the company has the potential to overcome current challenges and emerge as a reliable partner in the military space program.

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