Earlier this week, the United Launch Alliance announced the development of the semi-reusable “Vulcan” launcher meant to replace the likes of the Delta IV. Regardless of the merits or problems with this new design, there’s one issue that may cause prompt legal trouble:
Paul Allen Launches ‘Vulcan Aerospace’ to Boost Private Space Travel
Vulcan Aerospace will operate the “Stratolaunch” booster system now being built in California. Vulcan Aerospace, it turns out, is part of Vulcan, Inc., which was formed in 1986 and has a trademark on the “Vulcan” name. And Vulcan, Inc, seems like it wants to enforce that.
You’d think ULA would have checked on that. The article says that ULA looked into the name and found no legal issues… but that seems to perhaps be not entirely correct.