The Space Force has temporarily halted national security launches aboard the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, citing an anomaly observed during a recent military mission. According to Col. Eric Zarybnisky, the Space Force's portfolio acquisition executive, the service will not resume Vulcan missions until the issue is resolved. This pause comes as a setback for ULA, especially after the recent departure of CEO Tory Bruno and the company's plans to increase launch cadence in 2026. The anomaly, involving one of the solid-rocket boosters, had previously been noted in a previous launch, raising concerns for the Space Force. Zarybnisky assured that the investigation is ongoing, and the Space Force is working closely with ULA and its suppliers to understand the issue and prevent recurrence. This delay may impact ULA's launch schedule, including the planned launch of the final GPS III satellite, as the company explores alternative options if Vulcan is not cleared for launch.
