Cape Canaveral, Florida – United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket completed the journey from its Vertical Integration Facility to Space Launch Complex 41 on Monday, September 30, 2024, in preparation for its second certification mission slated for no earlier than October 4th. This milestone marks an important step for ULA in potentially launching national security payloads for the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office.
The mission, known as Cert-2, is scheduled for liftoff on Friday, October 4, during a three-hour launch window starting at 6 a.m. EDT. The rocket, measuring 202 feet tall and weighing approximately 1.5 million pounds when fueled, will undergo a tanking test on Tuesday following its rollout to the launchpad. Notably, there are no plans for a static fire test of the engines prior to launch.
During a teleconference in June, ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno mentioned that the Cert-2 flight will include experiments and technology demonstrations relevant to future developments for the Centaur 5 upper stage of the rocket. These experiments aim to understand the behavior and limits of the upper stage, particularly focusing on extending its duration for future missions.
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane was initially planned to accompany the rocket launch, but due to readiness issues, ULA decided not to carry a customer payload. Sierra Space has been working on ensuring its cargo module meets NASA standards for docking with the International Space Station. Despite the setback, Sierra Space remains committed to supporting future missions to space.
The successful completion of the Cert-2 mission is crucial for ULA to secure future government missions, including those for NASA. The data gathered from this flight will provide valuable insights for certification teams working with the U.S. Space Force to ensure the Vulcan rocket meets all necessary requirements. Ultimately, ULA aims to be certified for national security space launches following a clean flight.
Looking ahead, ULA is also focusing on developing its second Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and enhancing launch infrastructure at Space Launch Complex 3 in Vandenberg Space Force Base. These efforts reflect ULA’s commitment to advancing space exploration and supporting future missions in 2025 and beyond.