United Launch Alliance (ULA) CEO Tory Bruno has proposed a new military application for its Vulcan Centaur rocket, aiming to differentiate itself from rival SpaceX. The “space interceptor” concept enables the launch vehicle to thwart potential threats to US assets in orbit.
Bruno emphasized the need for a platform that is fast, long-range, and potentially lethal to counter adversaries targeting Space Force assets. He presented an enhanced version of the Centaur upper stage, which could operate for days or weeks, supporting complex trajectories and ambitious future missions.
The proposal comes as ULA seeks to regain ground lost in the military launch market. With its cost-effective Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX has eroded ULA’s market share since entering the field in 2015. The Vulcan Centaur features a first stage powered by Blue Origin BE-4 engines and a second stage using Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engine.
Bruno warned that conventional satellites move slowly, while the enhanced Centaur could rapidly respond to developing threats. He argued that the US government should foster unique capabilities among launch providers rather than encouraging competition solely on price.
The Space Force should look beyond just launch capabilities and pricing when selecting providers, Bruno suggested. “There’s unhealthy competition if you have businesses that are carbon copies of one another,” he said. Despite challenges, including potential delays in Vulcan’s introduction and speculation about a sale by parent companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Bruno remains optimistic about the partnership between private industry and government.
Source: https://spacenews.com/ula-pitches-space-interceptor-role-for-vulcan-rockets-upper-stage