ULA launched its Cert-2 mission on its brand new Vulcan rocket early Friday morning. While there was an obvious anomaly in one of its solid rocket motors, the company states the mission was a success. Now ULA and the Space Force will have to review flight data in order to gain certification for its lucrative National Security Space Launch missions.
ULA launched an inert payload on its Vulcan rocket from SLC-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:25 A.M. ET. This mission, named Cert-2, is the second certification mission under the US Space Force before it can hopefully begin launching NSSL missions later this year.
Two holds in the count resulted in a later-than-originally-planned launch, but neither were serious problems for launch teams to overcome. However, after liftoff, an obvious issue was seen around one of Vulcan’s two solid rocket motors. At L-39 seconds, what looked to be the motor’s nozzle was ripped off, which led to an abnormal exhaust, but the motor continued to function.
Tory Bruno, ULA CEO, said at the end of the live launch coverage that an “observation” was seen on SRM-1, but the mission was an overall success.
Cert-2 was supposed to fly Sierra Space’s Dreamchaser spaceplane on its inaugural launch, but that program is still trying to get its vehicle ready for flight. In order to get the rocket certified through the Space Force faster, ULA opted for a dummy payload.
“This is a significant achievement for both ULA and an important milestone for the Nation’s strategic space lift capability,” said Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen in a statement. “We are already starting to review the performance data from this launch, and we look forward to Vulcan meeting the certification requirements for a range of National Security Space missions.”
When certified, ULA’s first NSSL mission is expected to be USSF-106, according to Space Systems Command.
The FAA is aware of the rocket mortar anomaly and made a statement that it is looking into the need for an investigation or not. For ULA’s sake, hopefully whatever issue caused that will not hold Vulcan back from being certified.
We’ll have one more new rocket liftoff from Florida by the end of the year, Blue Origin’s New Glenn. It is set for its first launch sometime in November, and with it, all three possible NSSL Phase 3 providers will hopefully have operational rockets (ULA, Blue Origin, and SpaceX).
Cert-2 mission in photos
Photographers:
Steven Madow: @stevenmadow
Theresa Cross: @theresacross_
Jared Locke: @jared_base
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