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ULA’s Second Vulcan Launch: Paving the Path to Military Certainty
On Friday, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to test the capabilities of its Centaur upper stage with the second flight of the Vulcan rocket.
By Stephen Clark | Date: October 3, 2024
As the countdown begins for ULA’s second Vulcan rocket launch, there is palpable excitement surrounding its implications for the US military’s satellite capabilities. The primary objective of this mission, known as Cert-2, is to validate the Vulcan rocket’s reliability in delivering vital military payloads into orbit. ULA’s CEO, Tory Bruno, expressed his confidence ahead of the launch, noting the progress made since the rocket’s debut flight earlier this year.
A New Standard for Military Launches
The Vulcan rocket is intended to replace the aging Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, contributing an essential launch service for US military satellites over the coming years. To secure full certification and facilitate military contracts, military officials have mandated that the Vulcan complete two successful test flights.
“We’re in a good place with Cert-2,” Bruno stated. “We’re aiming for a flawless operation, and I firmly believe we will achieve that.”
If Friday’s launch meets expectations, it could lead to operational missions with the Space Force by year-end. ULA currently holds a significant backlog of contracts, including 25 launches for military and intelligence services.
Technical Innovations: The Centaur Upper Stage
The Vulcan features two advanced methane-fueled BE-4 engines produced by Blue Origin, providing a robust power foundation for enhanced performance. The rocket also boasts a versatile configuration, allowing for the attachment of additional solid rocket boosters to accommodate heavier payloads as required.
For this flight, minor modifications were made, including spray-on foam insulation designed to optimize the methane tank’s performance under atmospheric pressures. This upgrade is expected to yield slightly more usable propellant during the ascent.
In a shift from the first Vulcan launch—which was intended to send a commercial lunar lander to the Moon—this mission will utilize a dummy payload to simulate the weight of an operational satellite, ensuring that the rocket’s capabilities are thoroughly tested without the risk of losing a valuable asset.
Pushing the Boundaries of Cryogenic Technology
The Centaur V upper stage, a significant advancement over its predecessors, is engineered for extended missions. ULA aims to explore its operation beyond typical endurance limits, potentially lasting days or weeks in space instead of merely hours. This opens the door for intricate missions that could entail deploying satellites to varied orbits or providing continued propulsion for consecutive activities.
Though ULA has been exploring such capabilities since the Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage (ACES) project, recent developments have reignited interest in long-duration upper stages. The insights gained from this test flight could dramatically influence how future missions are designed and executed.
Future Aspirations for Space Operations
The ULA team envisions a future where spacecraft can maneuver freely between orbits, a concept often referred to as “dynamic space operations.” This could necessitate developments in in-orbit refueling and downloadable technology—both of which remain untapped within the industry. A successful flight can propel forward ULA’s ambitions to put such concepts into practice.
Bruno alluded to numerous experiments scheduled for the upcoming flight that could fine-tune upper stage performance even further. “To streamline our technology developments, we need to validate our analytical models in real space conditions,” he explained.
In summary, ULA’s forthcoming Vulcan test flight symbolizes a crucial stride toward enhancing military satellite capabilities and further advancing space operational technology. The outcome of this launch may very well set the stage for the next generation of aerospace exploration and security operations.
Stephen Clark is a space reporter at Ars Technica, covering the intersection of technology, policy, and business in the aerospace sector.