Engines, Propellants and the Launch Supply Chain
Which parts of the launch supply chain are concentrated, which are growing, and where could a single failure stop several rockets?
Chapter summary
The launch supply chain has a few narrow points.
Key takeaways
- 1
Two US rockets depend on Blue Origin's BE-4 engine; ULA's Vulcan and Atlas V depend on Northrop Grumman's solid boosters, which failed on two of Vulcan's four flights; Europe's Ariane 6 and Vega C share the P120C solid motor; and the US solid-rocket-motor base that serves Vulcan's boosters also supplies missile interceptors whose demand has surged since the 2026 Iran war.
- 2
Vertical integration, building engines and stages in-house as SpaceX, Rocket Lab and most Chinese companies do, is in part a response to these risks.
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