![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vulcanboosters.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEngineers traced the problem to a manufacturing defect in an insulator on the solid rocket motor, and telemetry data from all four boosters on the following flight in August exhibited \u201cspot-on\u201d performance, according to Bruno. But officials decided to recover the spent expendable motor casings from the Atlantic Ocean for inspections to confirm there were no other surprises or close calls.<\/p>\n
The hangup delaying the next Vulcan launches isn\u2019t in rocket production. ULA has hardware for multiple Vulcan rockets in storage at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.<\/p>\n
Instead, one key reason for Vulcan\u2019s past delays has been the rocket\u2019s performance, particularly its solid rocket boosters. It isn\u2019t clear whether the latest delays are related to the readiness of the Space Force\u2019s GSSAP satellites (the next GPS satellite to fly on Vulcan has been available for launch since 2022), the inspections of Vulcan\u2019s solid rocket motors, or something else.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Vulcan booster cores in storage at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.<\/p>\n
Credit:<\/p>\n
United Launch Alliance<\/p>\n
A Space Systems Command spokesperson told Ars that \u201cappropriate actions are being executed to ensure a successful USSF-87 mission \u2026 The teams analyze all hardware as well as available data from previous missions to evaluate space flight worthiness of future missions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson did not provide a specific answer to a question from Ars about inspections on the solid rocket motors from the most recent Vulcan flight.<\/p>\n
ULA\u2019s outfitting of a new rocket assembly hangar and a second mobile launch platform for the Vulcan rocket at Cape Canaveral has also seen delays. With so many launches in its backlog, ULA needs capacity to stack and prepare at least two rockets in different buildings at the same time. Eventually, the company\u2019s goal is to launch at an average clip of twice per month.<\/p>\n