NASA Payload Shifted From Vulcan To Falcon Heavy | Aviation Week

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Irene Klotz
July 20, 2026

NASA payload

Credit: Allison Bills/Space Dynamics Laboratory

A NASA science payload hitching a ride on a U.S. Space Force National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission will fly on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rather than a United Launch Alliance Vulcan. The Vulcan, which debuted in January 2024, has not flown since the USSF-87 mission on Feb. 12. The rocket…

Irene Klotz

Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International.

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