United Launch Alliance (ULA) is positioning its powerful Vulcan Centaur rocket as a potential tool for defending US satellites against emerging threats in space, Space.com reports.
Speaking at the Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida, ULA CEO Tory Bruno outlined a vision for upgrading the Centaur upper stage to serve as a “space interceptor.”
“To keep the peace, we also must have a credible space defense,” Bruno emphasized during his presentation.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket is slated for its inaugural Space Force mission in late 2024 or early 2025. ULA envisions future iterations of the Centaur upper stage, designed primarily for orbital operations, taking on a defensive role to protect critical US military assets in space.
In his remarks, Bruno highlighted the vulnerabilities of current satellites, which are equipped with slow thrusters and limited fuel, restricting their ability to respond quickly to threats. By contrast, a Centaur-based orbital defense system could employ powerful thrusters and abundant energy reserves to intercept hostile satellites within hours, long before they could pose significant risks.
“I mean a squadron of lightning-fast, long-range, lethal interceptors,” Bruno wrote in a December 4 blog post.
He likened these to “destroyers in orbit, the Greyhounds of Space.”
Bruno stressed the importance of developing defensive systems that minimize space debris, a critical concern given its long-lasting presence in orbit. Debris from destroyed satellites can threaten both civilian and military spacecraft for weeks in low orbit and centuries in higher altitudes.
“There are no national borders in space,” Bruno noted. “It is a common environment, shared by all.”
The Space Force has underscored the increasing challenges of operating in a “congested and contested” space environment. Brigadier General Anthony J. Mastalir, Space Force Indo-Pacific commander, reiterated the service’s mission to ensure uninterrupted operations in this domain.
“Space is no longer a sanctuary. It’s a contested domain,” Mastalir said at the conference.
