Satellite Programs & Technology   Space Force   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization  

Space Force suspends ULA Vulcan NSSL launches after solid-rocket anomaly

The U.S. Space Force has paused National Security Space Launch missions on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur after a Feb. 12 USSF-87 flight showed an anomaly in one of four solid rocket boosters. The pause will remain until investigations resolve the booster/solid motor and resurfacing issues.

Discovered 2026-02-25T13:31:28.150179-08:00 | 2026-02-25T13:31:28.150179-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The Space Force halted Vulcan NSSL flights after a Feb. 12 SRB anomaly on USSF‑87; ULA completed the mission but an active investigation is keeping military launches grounded (see source:84cab8be-ec7c-4894-9360-d6639e077d40).
  • The pause arrives as ULA had targeted a high Vulcan cadence for 2026 and U.S. launch infrastructure is already strained, creating near‑term schedule pressure and potential need to reassign or delay national‑security missions (see source:efc6b918-f489-4bb5-a9f5-4b69beb3b3b1 and source:632482d0-9cc8-4495-a9db-2db57eadf419).

Reported By

mynews13.com orlandosentinel.com Florida Today Space.com Defense Daily rocketcitynow.com
Sources Tracked
11
First Seen
2026-02-25T13:31:28.150179-08:00
Latest Update
2026-03-02T11:53:02.333559-08:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

Hype groups these reports into one evolving story so you can compare coverage without losing the thread.

Related Coverage