From Investing.com:

The first launch of ULA’s Vulcan rocket will take place next week at Cape Canaveral, where it will carry a moon lander and establish a competitive footing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The launch is vital to plans to sell the joint venture by U.S. aerospace firms Boeing and Lockheed, also serving as the first of two certification flights required by the U.S. Space Force before Vulcan can fly Pentagon satellites.

The forthcoming launch marks the culmination of a years-long development effort uniquely prompted by ULA’s need to replace its current Atlas V rocket. Boeing and Lockheed, which are looking to sell their jointly-owned venture, have spent over a year in ensuring the success of Vulcan’s launch. The rocket will have a multibillion-dollar backlog of roughly 80 missions split between government and commercial customers.

Priced lower than its predecessors at roughly $110 million per launch, Vulcan will seek to reclaim market share from the cheaper Falcon 9, in addition to competing with Blue Origin’s forthcoming New Glenn rocket. The new ownership of the ULA could finally allow the company to innovate beyond the launching sector.



Read more: Vulcan rocket’s space debut will be crucial for Boeing-Lockheed venture as sale talks loom By Reuters