United Launch Alliance (ULA) is targeting December 24, 2023 for the first launch of its Vulcan Centaur rocket. The launch is scheduled for 1:49 AM EST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida. The rocket will carry Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine lander on a mission to the lunar surface

The Vulcan Centaur rocket has a payload capacity similar to ULA’s Delta IV Heavy. The booster is 17.7 ft in diameter and 109.2 ft long. The spacecraft is encapsulated in a 17.7 ft diameter payload fairing. 

ULA is slightly ahead of schedule, but still needs to complete some testing and a practice launch day. There are backup launch windows on December 25 and 26 if the first opportunity passes

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has its sights set on a festive first launch of its brand new rocket. ULA’s long-awaited Vulcan Centaur is the successor to the company’s veteran Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles and is now scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Christmas Eve.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a US aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor that launches spacecraft into orbit. ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed that was formed in 2006. ULA’s headquarters are in Centennial, Colorado. 

ULA launches payloads for the US government, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the National Reconnaissance Office. ULA also launches non-government satellites. ULA’s launches include: 

• Weather satellites 
• Telecommunications satellites 
• National security satellites 
• Mars rovers 
• Classified national security assets 
• Deep space and interplanetary exploration missions 

ULA has a 100% mission success rate and has launched more than 155 consecutive missions. ULA’s missions include: 

• Providing capabilities for troops in the field 
• Helping meteorologists track severe weather 
• Enabling GPS navigation 
• Unlocking mysteries of the solar system 

ULA’s Atlas V and Delta IV rockets are being replaced by the Vulcan Centaur rocket. The Vulcan Centaur is designed for the US government’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.

The Vulcan Centaur can carry up to 60,000 pounds (27,200 kilograms) of payload to low Earth orbit (LEO). This is in its most powerful configuration, which has six solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The first launch will have two SRBs. 

The Vulcan Centaur can also carry 31,700 pounds to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). 

The Vulcan Centaur’s payload capabilities include: 

• LEO: 200 km (120 mi) circular orbit at a 28.7° inclination 
• International Space Station: 407 km (253 mi) circular orbit at 51.6° inclination 
• Polar LEO: 200 km (120 mi) circular orbit at 90° inclination 

The Vulcan Centaur is 61.6 meters tall and has a fairing diameter of 5.4 meters.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The company was formed in 2006 to provide access to space for the US Department of Defense’s satellites. 

ULA’s CEO is Tory Bruno. He oversees all business management and operations. 

ULA has been competing with other space launchers, including: Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Rocket Lab, SpaceX. 

ULA’s average launch price is $225 million, but future launches could be as low as $100 million. 

ULA is currently expanding its Decatur facility, which is expected to be completed by April 2026. The expansion will add to the existing 2 million square foot facility.

ULA uses different engines for different rockets: 

• Atlas V: Uses the RL10 propulsion system to power its second stage. For human-rated launches, ULA uses the dual-engine Centaur configuration. 
• Delta IV: Uses the RL10 propulsion system to power its second stage. 
• Vulcan Centaur: Uses two BE-4 engines for booster propulsion. Each engine produces 550,000 lbs of thrust. The upper stage uses the RL10 engine. 

ULA selected the RL10 engine for the Vulcan Centaur upper stage in May 2018. In September 2018, ULA selected the BE-4 engine for the Vulcan’s booster.(full article source google)

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