Vulcan Rocket Faces Booster Glitch During Classified Mission

The United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket took off from Cape Canaveral early Thursday, carrying secret Space Force payloads that were meant to reach a geosynchronous orbit. The launch began smoothly, with the twin BE‑4 engines and four solid boosters pushing the vehicle skyward. However, about twenty seconds after liftoff one of the strap‑on boosters showed signs of a nozzle burn‑through, sending a plume of flame to one side. \\ The core and upper stages continued normally, but the vehicle rolled sharply just before the boosters detached. The cause of the roll—whether from the failed nozzle or another issue—remains unclear, though the motion stopped once the boosters were jettisoned. \\Because the mission was classified, ULA cut the broadcast shortly after second‑stage ignition and offered no further details until the ten‑hour flight concluded. The launch was the fourth for Vulcan and its second classified flight, following a previous nozzle failure that prompted a thorough investigation. \\ The primary payload was a Northrop Grumman Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness satellite, designed to monitor other satellites in a 22, 300‑mile orbit that keeps them fixed over the Earth’s surface. The vehicle also carried an ESPAStar platform, a deployable solar‑powered bus that can host multiple smaller payloads—though these were also classified. \\ The event highlights the challenges of testing a heavy‑lift vehicle that uses both American and Russian components. While ULA plans to launch over 20 rockets this year, the booster issue may affect future schedules and underscores the importance of rigorous safety checks for national security missions.