ULA Secures NASA Pipeline as Vulcan Nears Return-to-Flight
AI-generated image · US National Wire
United Launch Alliance leverages a major NASA contract and Vulcan's ramp-up to solidify its position against emerging medium-lift competitors.
As Ars Technica first reported, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is securing more government business, landing a major contract from NASA while its Vulcan rocket nears a return-to-flight.
This consolidation of government business comes as several new entrants attempt to break into the medium-lift market. Cowboy Space, founded by billionaire Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, recently revealed specs for its "Big Iron" rocket. Aviation Week & Space Technology reports that the methane-fueled vehicle is intended to loft payloads of up to 18 metric tons to low-Earth orbit by the end of 2028. However, Ars Technica notes that Cowboy Space lacks significant hardware and lags behind established providers.
Other competitors face their own hurdles. The European Space Agency's (ESA) reusable rocket demonstrator, Themis, continues to suffer from delays. European Spaceflight reports that ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja expressed uncertainty on October 22 regarding whether the rocket could fly before the end of the year, following a missed first-quarter 2026 target set by Director General Josef Aschbacher.
While some newcomers are gaining traction—such as Stoke Space, which GeekWire reports received a conditional $150 million loan commitment from the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital for a second launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station—ULA's current momentum with NASA positions it to dominate the long-term pipeline.