The new Vulcan rocket passed its first fire tests [VIDEO]
(United Launch Alliance https://bit.ly/3N07Irr)
United Launch Alliance (ULA) conducted the first fire tests of the first stage of its new Vulcan rocket, which were successful.
The date of the first flight of the rocket is still not determined due to problems in the tests of the second stage.
The development of the heavy two-stage Vulcan launch vehicle has been carried out by ULA since 2006 and it should replace the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets.
Vulcan will be capable of launching up to 27 tons of payload into low Earth orbit and up to seven tons into geostationary orbit.
Its first stage is powered by two Blue Origin BE-4 methane-oxygen engines.
The second stage of the Centaur V is powered by two RL10 hydrogen-oxygen engines from Aerojet Rocketdyne.
In addition, depending on the configuration, the rocket can be equipped with two, four or six solid-propellant side boosters.
On the evening of June 7, 2023, the booster rocket, installed vertically on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, successfully passed static fire tests.
The flight readiness test took a total of six seconds.
During the tests, the operation of the first stage engines was checked according to the prelaunch program.
The investigation into the reasons for the unsuccessful firing tests of the second stage, conducted on March 29, 2023, during which it exploded, is still ongoing.
Vulcan was previously expected to make its first flight on May 4 this year, but due to an accident, it was postponed indefinitely.
The rocket's first-flight payload will consist of the Peregrine private lunar module and two communications satellites.
Sources:
- Space.com: https://www.space.com/ula-vulcan-centaur-test-fire-june-2023
- SpaceFlightNow: https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/07/vulcan-centaur-frf-coverage/
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