this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2024
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ULA Vulcan Cert-2 launch thread! (self.spaceflight)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spaceflight
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Time for the second launch of Vulcan!

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-10-04 11:25 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (local) | 2024-10-04 07:25 (EST) | | Launch site | SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida. | | Launch provider | United Launch Alliance (ULA) | | Launch vehicle | Vulcan Centaur (VC2S configuration*) | | Mission success criteria | Successful launch and deployment of payloads into desired orbit |

VC2S configuration breakdown:

  • V: Vulcan first stage
  • C: Centaur V upper stage
  • 2: Two GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters on the first stage
  • S: Standard size fairing, 15.5 m in length

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | ULA | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAUatH8O6Ng | | NASASpaceFlight | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPztD5zwgYY | | Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec_4DHUylEg | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yTZpKycf-w | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lIdTeAs5As |

Stats

☑️ 2nd Vulcan mission of 2024

☑️ 2nd Vulcan mission overall

☑️ 5th ULA mission of 2024

☑️ 163rd ULA mission overall

Payload info

Certification Flight 2

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.

| Target orbit | Heliocentric Orbit | |

|

| | Payloads | 1 | | Total Mass | 1,500 kg |

Previous ULA launch: USSF-51

Next ULA launch: [TBD]

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

In space now. Chilling second stage.

Launch looked a bit chunky but I guess that's just the solids.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Actually rewatching it, it looks like might have been a nozzle failure on one of the GEMs. There's a big flare before clouds obscure the rocket - much bigger than the ice. After this, one side looks to have a bigger exhaust plume than the other, and burns out slightly sooner.

Yeah, NSF are speculating about it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, NSF are pulling in other angles and it definitely blows chunks and yaws slightly. Centaur burn went long - I wonder if that impacts the second burn.

Meanwhile ULA: "Everything performing nominally"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Tory Bruno confirms "Observation on SRB#1".

[–] threelonmusketeers 2 points 2 months ago

An SRB blowing its nozzle off is certainly one hell of an "observation". Pretty impressive that the rest of the vehicle was able to compensate for the funky thrust.

[–] threelonmusketeers 2 points 2 months ago

https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/1842059654597083171

The ULA launch team is authorized to begin cryogenic propellant loading operations as today's #VulcanRocket countdown proceeds on schedule. Weather is 80% favorable to launch the #Cert2 mission at 6:00amEDT (1000 UTC).