ULA aimed to launch up to 10 Vulcan rockets this year—it will fly just once
In a significant shift from earlier projections, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to conclude 2025 with only six launches, despite initial expectations of a record-breaking year. Last year, ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno confidently estimated that the company would execute up to 20 missions this year, balancing launches between the veteran Atlas V rocket and its much-anticipated successor, the Vulcan rocket. However, as the year progressed, it became clear that operational challenges and delays would hinder the company’s ambitious plans. With five launches scheduled for the Atlas V and just one for the Vulcan, ULA’s performance will fall short of its earlier forecasts, marking a year of underachievement compared to its optimistic outlook.
The final launch of 2025 is set for December 15, when an Atlas V rocket will deploy another batch of broadband satellites for Amazon’s Leo network, previously known as Project Kuiper. This mission, taking place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, underscores ULA’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging satellite networks, even as it grapples with the transition to the Vulcan rocket. The Vulcan, which ULA has been eager to bring into service, faces delays that have impacted the company’s overall launch cadence. While this year will be ULA’s busiest since 2022, the stark difference between the anticipated and actual number of launches highlights the challenges faced by space launch providers in meeting growing demand amid technical and logistical hurdles.
Around this time last year, officials at United Launch Alliance projected 2025 would be their busiest year ever. Tory Bruno, ULA’s chief executive, told reporters the company would launch as many as 20 missions this year, with roughly an even split between the legacy Atlas V launcher and its replacement
—
the Vulcan rocket.
Now, it’s likely that ULA will close out 2025 with six flights
—five with the Atlas V and just one with the Vulcan rocket the company is so eager accelerate into service. Six flights would make
2025 the busiest launch year for ULA since 2022, but it falls well short of the company’s forecast.
Last week, ULA announced its next launch is scheduled for December 15. An Atlas V will loft another batch of broadband satellites for the Amazon Leo network,
formerly known as Project Kuiper
, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This will be ULA’s last launch of the year.
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