Watch the Launch

Additional Media

Vulcan Cert-2

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan VC2S rocket will launch the second certification (Cert-2) mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is ...

Certification Flight 2

Overview

Destination: Heliocentric N/A
Mission: Test Flight

Heliocentric N/A Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA Probability: 95%

Replacement Vulcan test launch with inert payload, experiments, and demonstrations for certification with the USSF after delays caused by payload testing of the Sierra Space Dreamchaser CRS SNC-1 mission, the original planned payload. One of the GEM-63XL SRBs was observed to blown out its booster nozzle at T+37 seconds, causing reduced and asymmetric thrust during ascent, however the performance shortfall was fully compensated by Vulcan's other stages.

Telemetry

Launch trajectory and telemetry simulations provided by Flight Club - a rocket launch simulator and orbital trajectory visualiser for all things space!

Updates

SwGustav • Oct. 4, 2024, 1:33 p.m.

Launch success


SwGustav • Oct. 4, 2024, 11:25 a.m.

Liftoff


SwGustav • Oct. 4, 2024, 11:02 a.m.

New T-0


hitura-nobad • Oct. 4, 2024, 10:31 a.m.

HOLD


hitura-nobad • Oct. 4, 2024, 10:01 a.m.

New T-0 10:30 UTC


Vulcan VC2S

Family:
Configuration: VC2S

Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2014. It is principally designed to meet launch demands for the U.S. government's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program for use by the United States Space Force and U.S. intelligence agencies for national security satellite launches. It will replace both of ULA's existing launchers (Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy) in this role, as these launchers are retiring.

See Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    61.6 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    663.0 T
  • Thrust
    9303.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vulcan VC2S
  • Family
  • Variant
    VC2S
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vulcan VC2S
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    19000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    8400.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    2600.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    15200.0 kg

United Launch Alliance

United Launch Alliance

(ULA)

Interim CEO: John Elbon Founded: 2006 Successes: 174 Failures: 0 Pending: 37

Agency Type:

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

INFO WIKI

Related News

The Launch Pad

Vulcan Centaur Certified for National Security Missions by US Space Force

Vulcan Centaur Certified for National Security Missions by US Space Force

SpaceNews

Space Force certifies Vulcan for national security launches

The U.S. Space Force has certified United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, allowing that vehicle to conduct national security missions. The post Space Force certifies Vulcan for national security launches appeared first on SpaceNe…

Arstechnica

At long last, the Space Force has certified the Vulcan rocket

US Space Force to United Launch Alliance: "I have been and always shall be your friend."

SpacePolicyOnline.com

ULA’s Vulcan Wins Certification for National Security Space Launches

The U.S. Space Force certified the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) Vulcan rocket today, making it eligible to launch national security satellites. Two successful test flights are needed to win certification. […]

Spaceflight Now

U.S. Space Force certifies ULA’s Vulcan rocket to begin launching national security missions

The conclusion of certification closes out a process that began in September 2016 and saw the government closely track the development of Vulcan alongside United Launch Alliance. Its first National Security Space Launch mission is targetin…

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Space Launch Complex 41


Falcon 9
Success
16 hours, 10 minutes ago
NROL-179
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Fourteenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Offi…


Ariane 64
Success
2 days, 12 hours ago
Amazon Leo (LE-03)
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, thi…


Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 18 hours ago
BlueBird Block 2 #3-5
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, requi…


Kuaizhou 11
Success
2 days, 21 hours ago
CentiSpace-1 Group 05
Launch Area 95A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Note: Unofficial reports indicate there may be 1 or more additional satellites that failed to separate from the upper stage, however this is not offi…


Long March 12
Success
2 days, 22 hours ago
SatNet LEO Group 22
Commercial LC-2 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…


Long March 3B/E
Success
3 days, 15 hours ago
Shijian 31
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Classified experimental Chinese satellite of unknown purposes (officially described for "spatial environment detection" purposes).


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 9 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-54
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Kinetica 1
Success
4 days, 21 hours ago
8 x Jilin-1
Launch Area 130 - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

8 Earth observation satellites for the Jilin-1 commercial Earth observation satellites constellation: * High Resolution-04D 01-02 * High Resoluti…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 10-54
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


H3-30
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
H3-30 Test Flight
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2 - Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

Test flight of the H3-30 variant of the H3 launch vehicle with 3 LE-9 engines in the first stage and no SRBs. The flight will carry a dummy main payl…