ULA Lands a Big NASA Contract as Vulcan Nears Return to Flight

It has been a good week for United Launch Alliance. The rocket company won a large contract from NASA, and its Vulcan rocket is nearing a return to flight, a step that would put the vehicle back in service after its time on the ground.

The contract is a clear vote of confidence in ULA at a moment when the company needs one. Vulcan is central to its launch plans, and any delay to that rocket ripples through the schedule for government and commercial customers. A return to flight would give ULA a visible sign that the vehicle is back on track.

The same weekly Rocket Report roundup also flagged Themis and Cowboy Space, but the summary available for this story does not include details on either, so we are holding off on those for now. The ULA news stands on its own as the week's clearest headline for the launch industry.

ULA has been a major launch provider for U.S. government customers, which is why the status of Vulcan matters beyond a single mission. Watch for the exact launch date and the terms of the NASA award as more information comes out.