Vulcan

The February 12, 2026 Vulcan anomaly involved a visible nozzle malfunction on one of the Northrop Grumman-built GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters.

A similar booster nozzle manufacturing defect occurred during a Vulcan test flight in October 2024.

The Vulcan booster on the USSF-87 mission delivered its payloads to orbit, but one of its four solid rocket motors malfunctioned shortly after liftoff.

The U.S. Space Force is using SpaceX launch capabilities to maintain delivery of the GPS III-8 mission while the Vulcan anomaly investigation continues.

Amazon Leo plans 20+ missions in year two, including inaugural missions on Vulcan and New Glenn.

Amazon Leo’s initial Vulcan missions will carry 40 satellites per launch.

USSF-70 was reassigned from Falcon Heavy to Vulcan.

GPS III SV08 was reassigned from Vulcan to Falcon 9.

The U.S. Space Force assigned Vulcan to launch the USSF-70 mission no earlier than summer 2028.

United Launch Alliance's next Vulcan launch, with upgrades to its solid rocket booster nozzles, is expected to launch this summer.

GPS III SV10 was reassigned from Falcon 9 to Vulcan and then back to Falcon 9.

GPS IIIF SV01 was reassigned from Falcon Heavy to Vulcan.

GPS III SV07 was reassigned from Vulcan to Falcon 9 and flew as RRT-1.

United Launch Alliance is accelerating upgrades to Vulcan solid rocket booster nozzles after the USSF-87 solid rocket booster anomaly.

GPS III SV09 was reassigned from Vulcan to Falcon 9.

GPS III-10 will launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 instead of ULA's Vulcan.

USSF-70 will launch on ULA's Vulcan instead of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.

United Launch Alliance was already planning the Vulcan modifications before the February Space Force mission anomaly.