In the previous year, United Launch Alliance (ULA) officials anticipated 2025 as their busiest period, with expectations to launch up to 20 missions, split evenly between the legacy Atlas V launcher and its successor, the Vulcan rocket, according to CEO Tory Bruno.
However, the year is now projected to close with only six launches—five using the Atlas V and just one with the Vulcan rocket. This count signifies the busiest year for ULA since 2022, yet falls short of their initial forecast.
Recently, ULA announced an upcoming launch on December 15, marking their final mission for the year. Scheduled to take off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, an Atlas V will deploy broadband satellites for Amazon's Leo network, previously known as Project Kuiper.
The Vulcan rocket's sole mission in 2025 occurred on August 12. This launch, a collaboration with the US Space Force, delivered an experimental military navigation satellite and a classified payload to orbit. It was the Vulcan's third mission and its first national security-related flight following Space Force certification.
ULA remains a certified launch partner for the Space Force's National Security Space Launch program, responsible for key space missions including reconnaissance, navigation, communications, and early warning satellite deployments. In comparison, SpaceX, another provider, has conducted 151 Falcon 9 launches this year, including six for the Space Force’s NSSL program.
Persistent concerns regarding Vulcan's rollout have been noted, with the Pentagon expressing issues as far back as May 2024. A letter from then-space acquisition assistant secretary, Frank Calvelli, to ULA’s parents, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, highlighted delays impacting military satellite capabilities. These concerns remain relevant with military satellites still queued for Vulcan launches.