The US Space Force is grappling with the lingering issues of United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan rocket, which has faced two serious malfunctions in less than two years. Despite a backlog of nearly 70 launches, the Vulcan has only flown four times since its debut in January 2024.

Two incidents involved exhaust nozzles from one of the solid rocket boosters blowing off during launch, both times leaving the rocket to complete its mission successfully. This suggests deeper issues within ULA and its booster supplier, Northrop Grumman, casting a shadow on the Vulcan’s reliability.

Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of the Space Force's Space Systems Command, has made it clear that these problems will influence future procurement decisions for launch services. “From my role, as essentially the person who accepts the risk of launching the rocket, it certainly shapes my decision space,” he stated.

The implications extend beyond just the Vulcan; the US military relies on two primary launch vehicles—ULA's Vulcan and SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Garrant's concerns hint at a shift towards greater scrutiny in vendor performance before choosing which rockets to use for sensitive missions.