ULA Investigates Vulcan Booster Anomaly After Latest Launch

Setback comes amid leadership changes at launch provider

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

United Launch Alliance's latest Vulcan Centaur launch on February 12 suffered a "significant performance anomaly" with one of the rocket's four solid rocket boosters, prompting a thorough investigation by the company. This incident comes as ULA is undergoing leadership changes, with longtime CEO Tory Bruno departing for a new role at Blue Origin. The Vulcan rocket has faced a series of development delays and technical issues, straining its relationship with the U.S. Space Force, a key customer.

Why it matters

The Vulcan rocket is critical to ULA's future and the U.S. national security space launch manifest. Any delays or technical problems with the new launch vehicle could have significant impacts on the Space Force's ability to launch its satellites and payloads on time. The leadership change at ULA also introduces uncertainty as the company works to resolve the latest Vulcan anomaly and restore confidence with its government customers.

The details

During the February 12 launch, a shower of debris was observed coming from one of the Vulcan's four solid rocket boosters shortly after the rocket passed through maximum dynamic pressure. ULA said the issue did not appear to affect the overall flight, but the company will conduct a "thorough investigation" to identify the root cause and implement any necessary corrective actions before the next Vulcan mission. This is the second significant technical issue with the Vulcan booster, following a nozzle separation incident on a previous launch in 2024 that also required investigation and fixes.

  • The Vulcan Centaur lifted off on February 12, 2026.
  • In October 2024, the second Vulcan launch (Cert-2) experienced a nozzle separation issue with one of the solid rocket boosters.

The players

United Launch Alliance (ULA)

The joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that develops and operates the Vulcan Centaur and other launch vehicles.

Tory Bruno

Former president and CEO of ULA who recently departed the company to take a new role at Blue Origin.

John Elbon

ULA's chief operating officer who is serving as acting CEO following Bruno's departure.

U.S. Space Force

A key customer for ULA's launch services, including for the Vulcan rocket.

Northrop Grumman

The manufacturer of the Vulcan's solid rocket boosters, which has worked with ULA to address previous issues.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Early during flight, the team observed a significant performance anomaly on one of the four solid rocket motors. We will conduct a thorough investigation, identify root cause, and implement any corrective action necessary before the next Vulcan mission.”

— Gary Wentz, Vice President of Atlas and Vulcan Program at ULA (ULA statement)

“Major issues with the Vulcan have overshadowed its successful certification resulting in delays to the launch of four national security missions. Despite the retirement of highly successful Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, the transition to Vulcan has been slow and continues to impact the completion of Space Force mission objectives.”

— Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition (House Armed Services Committee testimony)

What’s next

The U.S. Space Force has stated it will not launch national security payloads on the Vulcan until the investigation into the latest anomaly is complete and any necessary corrective actions are implemented. ULA has not provided a timeline for how long the investigation will take.

The takeaway

The latest technical issue with the Vulcan rocket, coming amid leadership changes at ULA, underscores the challenges the company faces in transitioning its launch vehicle fleet and maintaining the confidence of its key government customer, the U.S. Space Force. Resolving the Vulcan anomaly and restoring a reliable launch cadence will be critical priorities for ULA's next CEO.