United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to launch the second certification mission for its Vulcan Centaur rocket, dubbed Cert-2, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The launch is scheduled for Friday, October 4, 2024, with a window from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT. This mission is the second of two certification flights required by the U.S. Space Force before Vulcan can be cleared for national security missions.
The Cert-2 mission will demonstrate the Vulcan Centaur’s high-energy rocket design, by placing an inert payload and a variety of recording instruments into deep space, where it will orbit the sun. This payload acts as a mass simulator, replacing the original plan to carry Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane, which was not ready for this flight. The key objective is to validate the rocket’s performance, especially the endurance and efficiency of its Centaur V upper stage. The upper stage will undergo experiments to extend its operational duration, which is critical for future missions requiring prolonged in-space mobility (ULA Launch) (Satnews).
The Vulcan Centaur is powered by two BE-4 methane-fueled main engines, developed by Blue Origin, and supported by two GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, which together generate approximately 2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. This mission also involves critical tests of Centaur V’s cryogenic propellant management and energy preservation capabilities, vital for long-duration missions in deep space.
While Cert-2 is the next required step in Vulcan’s path toward full certification, it will not result in immediate approval. ULA will first analyze the mission data, which will then be handed over to the U.S. Space Force for a final review. If successful, Vulcan will be cleared for national security launches by the end of 2024, with two missions already scheduled (SpaceNews).
