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, on Friday, October 4, 2024 during a window of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT. The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is the second of two test flights required for ULA’s certification process with the U.S. Space Force.
It’s rollout day. ULA is making final preparations for Cert-2 rollout day at Cape Canaveral! The second #VulcanRocket will move to Space Launch Complex-41 for this week’s Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) prior to the launch no earlier than Friday at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).
United Launch Alliance (ULA) hoists the Cert-2 mission payload atop the Vulcan rocket in the Vertical Integration Facility-G (VIF-G) adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance
This week’s Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) will see the #Cert2 #VulcanRocket loaded with a million pounds of cryogenic propellants at Space Launch Complex-41 and put through a complete countdown procedure as part of certification.
For #Cert2 flight, the #VulcanRocket is flying in the Vulcan VC2S variant. It uses two BE-4 methane-fueled main engines, two GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, dual RL10C-1-1A engines on the Centaur V upper stage and a standard-length, 5.4m Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) payload fairing.
GO Vulcan! GO Centaur! GO Cert-2!
ULA to launch Vulcan second certification mission, and continues the legacy of Atlas
The United Launch Alliance second Vulcan certification flight (Cert-2) is scheduled for no earlier than (NET) October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, during a window of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT.
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.
Centaur V stacking: Vulcan Cert-2
United Launch Alliance (ULA) hoists its Centaur V upper stage atop the Vulcan Cert-2 booster into the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance
The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is the second of two test flights required for ULA’s certification process with the U.S. Space Force.