Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Launch Manifest topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vulcan anomaly prompts launch schedule changes; Space Force, NRO and partners assessing impacts
Summary
A recent Vulcan rocket anomaly that burned through a booster nozzle led the Space Force to pause Vulcan launches while investigators work; witnesses said some missions, including a GPS launch, are being moved to alternate providers and officials are evaluating how to extend on‑orbit satellites.
A rapid pressure loss and nozzle burn-through on a Vulcan solid rocket booster prompted a temporary pause on Vulcan launches and immediate work to replan upcoming manifests, Defense and intelligence witnesses told the House Strategic Forces Subcommittee.
Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess said the impacted mission’s payloads reached the intended orbit and are expected to perform their missions, but acknowledged the pause while the "root cause is determined." He told lawmakers the department is "actively looking through what the impacts will be" and that officials "will be moving a GPS launch from the Vulcan to another provider."
Thomas Ainsworth added acquisition and program executives (PAEs/PEOs) are examining options such as distributing launches, using rideshares and changing providers. "We've taken a very strong step forward with our industrial partners Northrop Grumman, ULA...the NRO team, and the Space Force teams working together to go and to try to resolve this issue as fast as possible," he said.
Witnesses listed program areas that could be affected — next-generation GEO payloads, WGS, NRO satellites and space-domain awareness assets — and said they are evaluating whether to extend current satellites, reassign launches, or shift missions to other launch providers. The committee asked for follow-up as analysis continues; no formal schedule decision was announced in the open hearing.
