ULA’s Vulcan Rocket Embraces Reusability, New Upper Stage

United Launch Alliance intends to incorporate a reusable main engine and re-ignitable upper stage in its newly dubbed Vulcan rocket, which was unveiled here April 13 on the eve of the 15th Space Symposium.

This new rocket is the company’s path to substantially reduce its cost to launch — a critical factor as the company’s monopoly over national security launches is eroding — and compete against SpaceX, which is expected to break into the military launch market with the U.S. Air Force certification of its Falcon 9 by mid-year.