United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its newest rocket system, the Vulcan, on Tuesday night from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch took place at 8:56 p.m. Eastern daylight time and marked the first fully operational flight of the Vulcan rocket system.
The rocket was powered by two methane-fueled BE-4 engines that produced three million pounds of thrust. The mission carried two military satellites for the U.S. Space Force, marking the first sanctioned flight of this new launch vehicle.
After three and a half minutes, the second stage Centaur rocket ignited with two hydrogen-fueled Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engines. This stage placed the payload into geosynchronous orbit above the Equator. The Centaur system is designed to lift heavy payloads into specialized orbits, reducing the need for satellite fuel consumption during final positioning.
One of the satellites will conduct a classified mission, while the other will test new navigation technology and atomic clocks that could contribute to developing jam-resistant GPS data for global navigation.
ULA’s workforce involved in this mission are members of IAM Local 610 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Local 971 in Jupiter, Florida, and Local 44 in Decatur, Alabama.
“This was the 101st successful launch of a ULA rocket system thanks to the hard work and dedication of this multi talented group of IAM Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings,” according to a statement from those involved.
