United Launch Alliance plans Vulcan rocket return to flight in November

United Launch Alliance announced on October 28, 2026, that it plans to return its Vulcan rocket to service on November 13, pending range approval. Ars Technica reported that the mission will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. [1][2][3][4][5]

The return to flight follows a nine-month pause caused by a solid rocket booster anomaly, according to Ars Technica. The rocket experienced nozzle failures on its solid rocket boosters during two of its first four missions. [1]

The upcoming mission will launch 40 satellites for the Amazon Leo broadband network, Ars Technica reported. This launch will mark the first of 38 booked Vulcan flights to deploy the bulk of the Amazon satellite network, and it will be the first Vulcan launch to use a full set of six solid rocket boosters. [1][4][5]

Vulcan Centaur is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance to replace its Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. The two-stage-to-orbit vehicle is designed for the National Security Space Launch program and commercial missions. [6]