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: 175 Failures: 0 Pending: 36

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


Long March 6A
Success
17 hours, 16 minutes ago
SpaceSail Polar Group #13
Launch Complex 9A - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies with…


Pegasus XL
Success
1 day, 18 hours ago
Swift Boost Mission
Kwajalein Atoll - Air launch to orbit

Contracted by NASA under the Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract, Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK servicing spacecraft will rendezv…


Atlas V 551
Success
2 days, 22 hours ago
Amazon Leo (LA-08)
Space Launch Complex 41 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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, 23 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-46
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.


Long March 4B
Success
3 days, 3 hours ago
Haiyang 2E
Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Haiyang 2E (Chinese: "Ocean"), abbreviated HY-2E, is a marine remote sensing satellite of China. The HY-2 series' primary objective is to measure oce…


Falcon 9
Success
6 days ago
Sirius SXM-11
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

SXM-11 is the 12th high-powered, digital, audio radio satellite built by Lanteris Space (ex-Maxar, Space System/Loral) for SiriusXM. The SXM-11 satel…


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 10 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-40
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.


Electron
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Ten Owl Of Ten (StriX Launch 10)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 2 days ago
Starlink Group 17-45
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.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Project Starfall Demonstration Mission
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Note: Mission profile and payload details are TBD. Demonstration mission for SpaceX’s Project Starfall, which aims to mass-produce reentry capsule…