The joint rocket venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance (ULA), is planning to upgrade its Vulcan rocket to compete with SpaceX’s Starship in the burgeoning low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch market, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno.
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This strategic move is driven by the increasing profitability of the LEO market, fueled largely by SpaceX’s deployment of thousands of Starlink internet satellites. ULA aims to capitalize on this growing demand by developing a Vulcan variant specifically tailored for LEO missions.
Vulcan Rocket Modifications Target Increased LEO Payload Capacity
“We recently completed a comprehensive trade study to determine what’s needed to be competitive in the future LEO market,” Bruno stated at a military space conference in Orlando. The result is a planned modification to the Vulcan rocket, significantly increasing its payload capacity to LEO and positioning ULA to compete effectively.
Currently, the Vulcan rocket, powered by Blue Origin engines, is primarily designed for Pentagon missions across various orbits. Having successfully completed its first two launches this year, the platform is now poised for evolution. Among the options considered for the LEO-optimized version were a “Vulcan Heavy” configuration, featuring three core boosters strapped together, as well as other unique configurations with propulsion systems in unconventional locations.
Responding to the Starship Challenge and the Rise of Mega-Constellations
While SpaceX’s Starship is primarily intended for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, it will also be instrumental in accelerating Starlink satellite deployments. This poses a significant challenge to competitors like ULA, especially with companies like Amazon building their own satellite networks, further driving demand for high-capacity launch vehicles.
ULA anticipates completing the development of the new Vulcan variant by the time Starship enters the LEO satellite launch market, which Bruno estimates to be several years away. “We won’t be facing him in that particular marketplace for a while,” he predicted.
However, Elon Musk’s ambition to double Starship’s power and enhance its rapid reusability suggests a potential timeline of several months to over a year before Starship begins LEO Starlink deployments.
ULA’s Vulcan: A Key Player in the Evolving Launch Landscape
ULA’s Vulcan rocket, with a starting price of approximately $110 million, slightly higher than SpaceX’s Falcon 9, already has a substantial order book of around 70 missions, including crucial deployments for Amazon’s Kuiper internet satellites. These commitments underscore the importance of ensuring the Vulcan’s reliable and routine operation. Amazon’s multi-launch agreement, secured in 2022, further highlights the significance of Vulcan in the competitive landscape.
SpaceX’s rapid iteration and “test-to-failure” approach with Starship, evidenced by six test flights, contrasts sharply with ULA’s traditional development model, which involves finalizing a design before launch. ULA is targeting eight Vulcan missions and 12 missions with its predecessor, the Atlas V, in the coming year.
Currently up for sale for over a year, ULA has reportedly attracted interest from Sierra Space and Blue Origin. However, Bruno has declined to comment on these acquisition discussions.
Conclusion: ULA Positions for the Future of LEO
ULA’s strategic decision to upgrade the Vulcan rocket signifies its commitment to remaining competitive in the rapidly evolving LEO launch market. By enhancing payload capacity and tailoring the Vulcan to the specific demands of LEO satellite deployments, ULA aims to secure its position as a key player in the space launch industry, directly challenging SpaceX’s dominance. The success of this endeavor will significantly impact the future landscape of commercial spaceflight.
