United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Next Generation Launch System (NGLS)

[Flyaway]

Today at @IAC2024 @ToryBruno shared #VulcanRocket engineering development innovations with #IAC2024 attendees. A key challenge in developing Vulcan was selecting a system architecture and leveraging the latest technologies to support a wide range of missions with a single launch… pic.twitter.com/74JWHCfo4A

— ULA (@ulalaunch) October 14, 2024

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1845877852324925590

Today at @IAC2024 @ToryBruno shared #VulcanRocket engineering development innovations with #IAC2024 attendees. A key challenge in developing Vulcan was selecting a system architecture and leveraging the latest technologies to support a wide range of missions with a single launch vehicle configuration.

 

[TheKutKu]

Some update on the anomaly on the last launch:

At #IAC2024, ULA's @torybruno says that the loss of the nozzle on one SRB on Cert-2 10 days ago resulted in <2% loss of impulse from that booster, which the core stage could make up. Working to find out what happened, but "pretty confident" will get to root cause quickly.

— Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) October 14, 2024

View: https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/1845830012915581135?s=46&t=9j2-lzDcIbRK6McrWkEb9g

As to how that affects the timeline for certification, he said that ULA was working with Space Force on that process, but can't answer for them regarding that schedule. ULA has been pushing to conduct first two national security Vulcan launches by the end of this year.

— Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) October 14, 2024

View: https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/1845833422960292274

That sounds more like the total impulse loss on core+boosters

— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) October 14, 2024

View: https://x.com/djsnm/status/1845835476483375260?s=46&t=LJKHrV0aE-lqVMS68FjSGg

That's right. He was referring to the total loss

— Space Voyaging (@SpaceVoyaging) October 14, 2024

View: https://x.com/spacevoyaging/status/1845835904570585326?s=46&t=LJKHrV0aE-lqVMS68FjSGg

 

[publiusr]

An aside--have any strap on boosters ever collided with each other after being cast off?

 

[Flyaway]

Debris from the failed booster nozzle on ULA's second Vulcan test flight fell near the launch pad, and is helping engineers piece together what happened.https://t.co/BuG8UhJnIf

— Stephen Clark (@StephenClark1) October 17, 2024

View: https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1846974246636933120

Debris from the failed booster nozzle on ULA's second Vulcan test flight fell near the launch pad, and is helping engineers piece together what happened.

ULA is examining debris recovered from Vulcan rocket’s shattered booster nozzle

“I’m pretty confident… that we’ll get to the bottom of this pretty quickly and move on.”…

arstechnica.com

 

[Flyaway]

Third flight NET November 2024.

#VulcanRocket is getting ready to serve the nation! The #USSF106 launch campaign for our third Vulcan mission — and first for @SpaceForceDOD and @USSF_SSC — begins today with the start of stacking operations at the Vertical Integration Facility-G. https://t.co/ZNSovZl0Lu pic.twitter.com/5DEP5r6LpE

— ULA (@ulalaunch) October 21, 2024

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1848428959349760147

#VulcanRocket is getting ready to serve the nation! The #USSF106 launch campaign for our third Vulcan mission — and first for @SpaceForceDOD and @USSF_SSC — begins today with the start of stacking operations at the Vertical Integration Facility-G.

Vulcan USSF-106

www.ulalaunch.com

 

[Flyaway]

The #USSF106 mission uses #VulcanRocket's high-energy capabilities to deliver this U.S. national security mission directly into geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above Earth. https://t.co/ZNSovZl0Lu pic.twitter.com/4MjSnwlWbL

— ULA (@ulalaunch) October 21, 2024

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1848451491440263569

The #USSF106 mission uses #VulcanRocket's high-energy capabilities to deliver this U.S. national security mission directly into geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above Earth. bit.ly/vulcan_ussf106

 

[mkellytx]

An aside--have any strap on boosters ever collided with each other after being cast off?

Almost certainly, but who really cares if it's behind the core. One case that I vividly remember is when a strap on collided with a core on one of the Soyuz launches which resulted in the Soyuz escape system activating before the rocket exploded. I remember this because Nick Hauge was the astronaut. I worked a project with him in 2006 and flew with him at ED, before he was famous, lol. Three launches for two trips to the ISS.

 

[publiusr]

R-7 may be one of the toughest rockets made--the abuse it took in lightning strikes, fires, collisions--and no fatalities.

 

[Forest Green]

Centaur Upper Stage Exhibit Honors Longstanding Contributions to Space Program

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 06, 2024 - An exhibit spotlighting the essential role of the Centaur upper stage in U.S. space operations was introduced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 18 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, the home of

www.spacewar.com

 

[Byeman]

R-7 may be one of the toughest rockets made--the abuse it took in lightning strikes, fires, collisions--and no fatalities.

It caused many fatalities. A Foton on Soyuz killed some people.

 

[publiusr]

Foton...
the Vostok/Zenit hull --that was 2002 now that I recall...I wonder what slipped.

 

[Flyaway]

The BE4 delivery rate is picking up. ULA now has confirmed engines in house for flights 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Vulcan Centaur. https://t.co/rbQ9tyOExX

— Derek Newsome (@DerekdotSpace) November 26, 2024

View: https://twitter.com/derekdotspace/status/1861446630639108481

The BE4 delivery rate is picking up. ULA now has confirmed engines in house for flights 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Vulcan Centaur.

 

[Forest Green]

ULA expects to be certified for national security launch ‘momentarily’ - Breaking Defense

ULA CEO Tory Bruno expressed confidence that the Vulcan Centaur would be able to loft its two manifested launches scheduled for early next year for the National Security Space Launch program.

breakingdefense.com

 

[FighterJock]

Good news for the Vulcan Centaur Forest Green,

 

[Forest Green]

ULA eyes annual mods to turn rocket stage into space interceptor

The fast-moving vehicle would be highly maneuverable and could be used to tow satellites or for counterspace missions, ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters.

www.defensenews.com

 

[NMaude]

@Forest Green indicated this was the right thread for the below video about the manufacture of large SRMs in the US:

Today on FRAME, we explore the production of space rockets. Join us to see the technology and craftsmanship used to manufacture powerful engines that make it possible for these extraordinary ships to travel to outer space.

 

[Flyaway]

New: @ulalaunch is de-stacking its Vulcan rocket and is now aiming to launch an Atlas V rocket as its first mission of 2025. This will be the Kuiper-1 mission, the first launch of production satellites for @amazon's Project Kuiper internet constellation.

Read more:… pic.twitter.com/BX8CWQ1qY9

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) February 7, 2025

View: https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1887938076103852527

New: @ulalaunch is de-stacking its Vulcan rocket and is now aiming to launch an Atlas V rocket as its first mission of 2025. This will be the Kuiper-1 mission, the first launch of production satellites for @amazon's Project Kuiper internet constellation.

Read more: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/02/...ons-kuiper-satellites-for-first-2025-mission/

: Amazon

From ULA:

“The big thing with the [USSF-106] destack is it’s really demonstrating the flexibility that we’ll have going forward to be able to pivot from Atlas to Vulcan back and forth in Lane-G, the traditional government lane,”

 

[NMaude]

ULA has uploaded a video concerning the performance of the GEM63XL SRBs on the second Vulcan-Centaur flight:

A behind the scenes look at our collaborative team investigation of the solid rocket booster nozzle observation from Vulcan’s successful second certification flight.

 

[Forest Green]

ULA's Vulcan rocket certified for national security launches - Breaking Defense

With that thumbs up from Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space program office in hand, ULA now is the second fully certified launch provider, along with SpaceX, cleared under the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.

breakingdefense.com

Space Force Certifies New ULA Rocket for Launches

The Space Force has certified United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket for National Security Space Launch missions.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[NMaude]

GREAT SPACEX has put out a video a day ago where ULA revealed the cause of the nozzle-failure of one of the GEM63XLs (It was a manufacturing defect):

ULA Vulcan Recovery just revealed What Exactly Failed with Flight 2 Anomaly...
===
00:00: Intro
00:49: Vulcan Cert-2’s problems
05:59: Challenges from ULA’s plans
08:55: NASA’s progress in SLS preparation
===
#greatspacex #elonmusk #spacex #nasa #starship

 

[BlueAbyssal]

ULA is targeting April 9th for the first launch of production Kuiper satellites:

Kuiper 1, the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the first production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, is planned for April 9, 2025. This launch begins a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with ULA to deliver…

— ULA (@ulalaunch) April 2, 2025

View: https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/1907480291356086590?s=46