The U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions, doubling the number of providers for such flights.

The certification process, which began in 2016, was no easy feat. Vulcan had to clear 52 criteria, 18 critical subsystem reviews, and 114 audits, along with two test launches. While its January 2024 launch succeeded,

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or "the Company"), a global leader in launch services and space systems, has today been selected by the U.S. Space Force to compete for the Department of Defense’s highest-priority national security missions for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program.