ULA sets May 4 date for first Vulcan launch
Posted: Sat, Feb 25, 2023, 9:08 AM ET (1408 GMT)
United Launch Alliance has scheduled the first launch of its Vulcan Centaur rocket for no earlier than May 4. ULA CEO Tory Bruno announced the new launch date in a call with reporters late Thursday to provide an update on preparations for the mission. That date is based on planned testing of the rocket, including a wet dress rehearsal and static-fire test, as well as qualification testing of the BE-4 engine used on the rocket's first stage. Bruno said those qualification tests turned up an issue with one engine that had slightly higher performance than expected from its main oxygen pump, but an investigation found it to be only unit-to-unit variation. The launch date is also driven by the requirements of the primary payload, Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, which has a window of only a few days each month. With a date set for the Vulcan launch, Bruno said it can now assess its effects on other ULA missions, such as the Atlas 5 launch of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule scheduled for April.
United Launch Alliance has scheduled the first launch of its Vulcan Centaur rocket for no earlier than May 4. ULA CEO Tory Bruno announced the new launch date in a call with reporters late Thursday to provide an update on preparations for the mission. That date is based on planned testing of the rocket, including a wet dress rehearsal and static-fire test, as well as qualification testing of the BE-4 engine used on the rocket's first stage. Bruno said those qualification tests turned up an issue with one engine that had slightly higher performance than expected from its main oxygen pump, but an investigation found it to be only unit-to-unit variation. The launch date is also driven by the requirements of the primary payload, Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, which has a window of only a few days each month. With a date set for the Vulcan launch, Bruno said it can now assess its effects on other ULA missions, such as the Atlas 5 launch of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule scheduled for April.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, June 27
Starlink satellite antennae plan divides Swiss village
Swissinfo — 7:12 am ET (1112 GMT) Sierra Space Announces Opening of New “Power Station” Technology Center in Colorado as Defense Operations Grow
Sierra Space — 7:11 am ET (1111 GMT) In the sky over Iran, Elon Musk and Starlink step into geopolitics – not for the first time
The Conversation — 7:11 am ET (1111 GMT) Musk Calls Lebanese President as Starlink Seeks License
Asharq Al-Awsat — 7:10 am ET (1110 GMT) AST SpaceMobile & Fairwinds Technologies Demonstrate World’s First Tactical NTN Connectivity Over Standard Mobile Devices
Business Wire — 7:09 am ET (1109 GMT) |
