NASA’s July 13, 2026 Decision
NASA has shifted its SunRISE mission from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, citing delays in the Vulcan’s return to service after a booster anomaly. The heliophysics mission, designed to track solar radio bursts, will now launch from Kennedy Space Center, with updated timing to be announced.
The decision, announced by NASA on July 13, 2026, follows the Vulcan Centaur’s suspension after a booster anomaly during its February 2026 flight. The mission, originally scheduled for a summer 2026 launch, faced uncertainty after the U.S. Space Force paused all national security launches on the Vulcan until investigations into the anomaly concluded. The shift to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy reflects NASA’s strategy to mitigate risks associated with the Vulcan’s grounding, according to reports from The Register.
SunRISE (Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment)
The SunRISE (Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment) mission consists of six toaster-oven-sized SmallSats that will function as a single, giant radio telescope to study radio bursts from the Sun’s corona. These bursts, generated by accelerated particles, precede solar energetic particle events that can disrupt satellites and endanger astronauts. The satellites, assembled at Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory, will orbit approximately 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth, spaced 6 miles (10 kilometers) apart to capture data on solar activity.
The six SmallSats will act as a single, giant radio telescope to capture in unprecedented detail data on the radio bursts associated with the Sun’s particle storms,
according to NASA’s official statement. The mission, managed by JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, and led by the University of Michigan, is part of the agency’s Explorers Program under the Heliophysics Division. The mission’s science investigation is led by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, which also provides the science operations center, while JPL manages mission operations.
ULA Vulcan Centaur’s Grounding
The shift to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy stems from the ULA Vulcan Centaur’s ongoing grounding following the February 2026 booster anomaly. During the fourth Vulcan flight, a solid rocket booster nozzle experienced a “burn-through,” though the payload reached orbit. The U.S. Space Force paused all national security launches on the Vulcan until investigations concluded, leaving SunRISE without a confirmed launch slot for 2026. The mission’s six SmallSats, constructed by 2023, were stored at Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory after completing final prelaunch testing in early 2026.
The Register reported that NASA and the Space Force are hedging against further delays by securing a Falcon Heavy launch. While the exact timing remains undisclosed, sources suggest a 2027 launch is likely. The mission will ride as a payload on a Space Systems Command-sponsored flight. Aviation Week noted that the Vulcan Centaur has not flown since its USSF-87 mission on February 12, 2026.
The SunRISE mission is a Mission of Opportunity under the Heliophysics Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. It is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and is part of the Explorers Program. The mission’s six SmallSats, each equipped with four radio antennas extending 10 feet (2.5 meters), will operate slightly above geosynchronous orbit. The satellites’ deployment will enable observations of solar radio waves, which arrive at Earth before solar energetic particles, offering potential for improved prediction of space weather events.
The agency’s statement on July 13, 2026, noted that NASA will share updated launch timing in the near future,
though no specific window has been set.
The SunRISE team is currently storing the satellites at Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory while awaiting further updates. The Register noted that the Falcon Heavy’s availability offers NASA flexibility. Several U.S. Space Force launches are planned for 2027, and SunRISE is likely to hitch a ride on one of them.
Additional Falcon Heavy launches in 2026 include the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One. The SunRISE mission, originally booked to fly on a Vulcan Centaur, now faces an uncertain timeline as NASA navigates the complexities of securing a launch vehicle.
University of Michigan Leads SunRISE Science Investigation
Source: Aviation Week, The Register, NASA Science Editorial Team.
Sources: Aviationweek, NASA.
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