posted 06-26-2024 09:41 AM               

Please use this topic to discuss United Launch Alliance's (ULA) second flight test of Vulcan, its next generation launch system, the Certification-2 (Cert-2) mission.

posted 06-26-2024 09:48 AM               

From ULA CEO Tory Bruno:

We have to fly our second and final certification mission before we can begin flying Vulcan for national security missions.

We will be switching payloads for Cert-2, since they [Sierra Space] are stepping aside to do the right thing for national security.

We have an inert payload, a so-called mass simulator that we had built for Cert-1 as a backup to the Peregrine payload that we did actually fly. That's what we will fly on Cert-2 and will add to that some experiments and demonstrations that are relevant to technology development for future insertion into our Centaur V upper stage.

And then we'll also conduct some maneuvers post the basic mission just to help us better understand the full capabilities of the Centaur V and to measure some of its attributes. It will then go to a disposal orbit to the designated junkyard.

posted 09-17-2024 11:46 AM               

The United Launch Alliance second Vulcan certification flight (Cert-2) is scheduled for no earlier than (NET) Oct. 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla.

The Cert-2 mission serves as the second of two certification flights required for the U.S. Space Force’s certification process. Vulcan continues the legacy of Atlas as the world’s only high energy architecture rocket and ushers in a new, innovative capability to meet the ever-growing requirements of space launch.

posted 09-21-2024 11:36 AM               

Today at the Vertical integration Facility-G (VIF-G), we are putting the top on the second Vulcan rocket in anticipation of the Cert-2 launch.

What's inside the Vulcan's payload fairing? This mission includes experiments, detailed test objectives, demonstrations and a whole lot of learning for the ULA team.

posted 09-21-2024 05:42 PM               

Standing proud in VIF-G.

posted 09-30-2024 02:13 PM               

Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Vulcan launch carrying the Cert-2 mission. The mission is planned to lift off on Friday, October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 6:00 a.m. EDT.

Today's (Sept. 30) forecast shows a 75 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

posted 10-04-2024 07:55 AM               

To recap, the United launch Alliance rocket departed Space Launch Complex-41 at 7:25 a.m. EDT.

The countdown started at 7:40 p.m. EDT under the guidance of ULA Launch Conductor Dillon Rice. The pad crew completed final preps at the complex and then cleared the area for fueling. The "go" for cryogenic tanking was given at 12:28 a.m. Tanking operations were successfully performed as a million pounds of cryogenic propellants were placed into the rocket.

At T+plus 2 minutes, 14 seconds, both solid rocket boosters jettisoned as planned.

At T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds, staging, ignition of the Centaur V upper stage and payload fairing jettison was confirmed.

At T+plus 16 minutes, 15 seconds, the first main engine cutoff, or MECO-1, was confirmed for the Centaur V upper stage. The Vulcan rocket reached a preliminary Earth orbit where it coasted above the globe until the next burn.

At T+plus 31 minutes, 10 seconds, the Centaur V's two RL10C-1-1A engines ignited again to climb from its initial parking orbit into an Earth-departure trajectory.

At T+plus 35 minutes, 3 seconds, the second main engine cutoff, or MECO-2, was confirmed for Centaur V, for a course into deep space where the upper stage and non-deployable inert payload will orbit the sun for the rest of time.

posted 10-04-2024 09:51 AM            

It's obviously true that they jettisoned, and the action of SRB jettison was obviously planned, but was it really the case that SRB jettison was planned to be at T+2m 14s? According to the clock on the video, I suggest that jettison was actually at T+2m 10s which makes the ULA statement seem oddly imprecise for the world of "rocket science."

But a more important point arises from a comparison between the first Vulcan certification flight and this second test. During both tests, the SRB "burnout" calls were at the same time (T+1m 27s). On Cert. 1, the boosters visibly separated at T+ 1m 50s. It's reasonable to ask why SRB jettison took place a full 20 seconds later on Cert. 2 compared with Cert. 1.

Is SRB jettison automatic, or can it be delayed manually (and if so, why)?

posted 10-04-2024 12:43 PM               

Bullseye chart coming. I imagine some of you are especially curious: orbital insertion was perfect.

All missions have propellant reserves. We add to that additional propellant margins based on the mass and the configuration of the rocket. Because this was compensated for within reserves, this anomaly was "invisible" to the rocket.

Nozzle anomaly. Case and grain fine. Reduced, asymmetric thrust. Compensated for by booster.