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NASA Shifts SunRISE to Falcon Heavy After Vulcan Setback

7/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

NASA will launch SunRISE on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy after dropping the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur.
Six SmallSats built at Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory completed testing in early 2026 and await launch.
NASA linked the switch to a February 2026 booster nozzle burn-through on the fourth Vulcan Centaur flight, which halted launches, and expects a rideshare on a U.S. Space Force Falcon Heavy mission, likely in 2027.

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Story summary

NASA will launch SunRISE on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy after dropping the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur.
Six SmallSats built at Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory completed testing in early 2026 and await launch.
NASA linked the switch to a February 2026 booster nozzle burn-through on the fourth Vulcan Centaur flight, which halted launches, and expects a rideshare on a U.S. Space Force Falcon Heavy mission, likely in 2027.