The United Launch Alliance is planning for the Vulcan to become its workhorse rocket. It faces its biggest test yet in its next launch.

As SpaceX and NASA gear up for the Crew-12 launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida early on Friday morning, its colleagues at United Launch Alliance (ULA) are just hours away from sending the Vulcan Centaur rocket skyward on only its fourth flight.

The aggregate materials company benefits from the rise in government and data-center-related construction projects.

The forecast from the Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45 weather squadron and Launch Weather Officer Rachel Shane for Thursday's launch of Vulcan indicates a 95 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

Executives at United Launch Alliance said the departure of longtime chief executive Tory Bruno has had an impact on the company, but insisted it has not altered ULA’s ability to deliver on its central task: increasing the launch rate of its new Vulcan rocket after years of delays.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reminds us Vulcans have a sharp sense of smell, and they think humans absolutely stink to high heaven.