Enlarge / Delta IV Heavy on the pad with NROL-68 at SLC-37B on June 20, 2023. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann) Once the most formidable rocket company in the United States, and arguably the world, United Launch Alliance has had a really difficult start to this year. At the beginning of 2023, the company's CEO, Tory Bruno, expressed confidence that the long-awaited Vulcan rocket would make its debut flight in May.