Vulcan woes will "absolutely" be a factor in Pentagon's next rocket competition

The US Space Force is still dealing with the near-term implications of the second grounding of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket in less than two years. The experience is likely to influence how the Pentagon buys launch services in the future, a three-star general said Tuesday.

The Vulcan rocket is one of the two primary launch vehicles the Space Force uses to put satellites into orbit, alongside SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The current NSSL contract carries the Space Force through October 1, 2029. Space Systems Command will spend the next 18 to 24 months assessing the launch market, including the performance of the military's existing launch providers and the status of emerging rockets. The military is likely to begin asking for industry proposals in the next NSSL competition in 2028.