Vulcan Centaur Prepares for Second Launch as ULA Rolls Rocket to Pad

United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) second Vulcan Centaur rocket has been transported to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC-41) in Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket is scheduled for its second launch on Friday, 4 October 2024.

This rollout marks an essential step in preparations, including a wet dress rehearsal (WDR). The WDR will involve loading the rocket with cryogenic propellants, allowing ULA to conduct a complete countdown at the launch pad.

Key Test Flight for Certification

If the WDR and other checkouts are successful, Vulcan Centaur will launch during a three-hour window starting at 6:00 a.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. GMT) on October 4. This mission, Cert-2, is the second of two needed for ULA to achieve certification for use by the U.S. Space Force.

Earlier this year, Vulcan Centaur completed its first test flight, successfully sending Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine moon lander to Earth orbit. However, the Peregrine lander did not reach the moon due to a propellant leak that caused it to burn up upon re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.

No Operational Payload for This Mission

Unlike its previous mission, Cert-2 will not carry an operational spacecraft. Instead, it will focus on technology demonstrations related to the Centaur V upper stage.

Initially, Cert-2 was expected to include Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser space plane, but additional time was needed to prepare the plane for flight. ULA has indicated that Dream Chaser’s debut will still take place aboard a future Vulcan Centaur mission once it’s ready.