ULA Vulcan Slips - Again
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From: Peripatetic
ULA Vulcan Slips - Again
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-ceo...-launch-delay/
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s hat is safe after ULA Vulcan rocket launch slips to 2023
…As of May 2021, ULA has now replaced one Vulcan launch with an Atlas V and inexplicably closed nine Atlas V launch contracts with Starlink competitor Amazon, bringing into question whether the company is ever actually going to simplify its rocket production lines.
Given that ULA no longer appears to be planning on reusing parts of Vulcan, the only possible way Vulcan will end up more affordable than the rockets its replacing is if it quickly becomes the only rocket ULA produces, which was originally the plan.
With ULA now apparently going out of its way to sell Atlas V commercially instead of Vulcan Centaur, it’s difficult to argue that the company has any interest at all in lowering the cost of access to space or offering SpaceX serious competition outside of lobbying and greasing the hinges of revolving doors.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s hat is safe after ULA Vulcan rocket launch slips to 2023
…As of May 2021, ULA has now replaced one Vulcan launch with an Atlas V and inexplicably closed nine Atlas V launch contracts with Starlink competitor Amazon, bringing into question whether the company is ever actually going to simplify its rocket production lines.
Given that ULA no longer appears to be planning on reusing parts of Vulcan, the only possible way Vulcan will end up more affordable than the rockets its replacing is if it quickly becomes the only rocket ULA produces, which was originally the plan.
With ULA now apparently going out of its way to sell Atlas V commercially instead of Vulcan Centaur, it’s difficult to argue that the company has any interest at all in lowering the cost of access to space or offering SpaceX serious competition outside of lobbying and greasing the hinges of revolving doors.
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From: Peripatetic
First Vulcan launch carrying the Peregrine lunar lander successful.
This was the first qualification flight, second later in the year before the Vulcan is certified for use by the DoD.
This was the first qualification flight, second later in the year before the Vulcan is certified for use by the DoD.
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From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
What happened to the Peregrine lander and what does it mean for moon missions?
The spacecraft, a collaboration between Nasa and Astrobotic, is unlikely to reach the lunar surface
The spacecraft, a collaboration between Nasa and Astrobotic, is unlikely to reach the lunar surface
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From: The Winchester
I think the important point of course is that the prime aim of the flight was getting in a qualifying flight in for Vulcan, and as ORAC says that was successful.
Some of the media are painting this as being all about a failed Moon mission, but the Peregrine lander mission was a secondary objective.
Some of the media are painting this as being all about a failed Moon mission, but the Peregrine lander mission was a secondary objective.
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From: The Winchester
For Info the Peregrine lander is still communicating with earth and functioning in a limited manner
It's on a trajectory which will eventually lead to it burning up in the Earth's atmosphere.
Astrobiotics Update 14 Jan
It's on a trajectory which will eventually lead to it burning up in the Earth's atmosphere.
Astrobiotics Update 14 Jan
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From: The Winchester
17 Jan Update
Astrobotic confirmed Jan. 17 that its Peregrine lunar lander will reenter over the South Pacific on Jan. 18, concluding a 10-day mission that failed to land on the moon because of a propellant leak.
In a statement, the company said it had adjusted the spacecraft’s trajectory to ensure it would safely reenter at about 4 p.m. Eastern Jan. 18. The reentry location in an ellipse several hundred kilometers long with its center a little more than 500 kilometers south-southwest of Fiji.
In a statement, the company said it had adjusted the spacecraft’s trajectory to ensure it would safely reenter at about 4 p.m. Eastern Jan. 18. The reentry location in an ellipse several hundred kilometers long with its center a little more than 500 kilometers south-southwest of Fiji.
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From: Peripatetic
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/0...cket-launches/
Air Force is “growing concerned” about the pace of Vulcan rocket launches
US military seeks an "independent review" to determine if Vulcan can scale.
…..For several years there have been rumblings about Air Force and Space Force officials being unhappy with the delays by United Launch Alliance, as well as with Blue Origin, which is building the BE-4 rocket engines that power Vulcan's first stage.
However, these concerns have rarely broken into public view.That changed Monday when The Washington Post reported on a letter from Air Force Assistant Secretary Frank Calvelli to the co-owners of United Launch Alliance, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
In the letter sent on May 10, a copy of which was obtained by Ars, Calvelli urges the two large aerospace contractors to get moving on certification and production of the Vulcan rocket.
"I am growing concerned with ULA’s ability to scale manufacturing of its Vulcan rocket and scale its launch cadence to meet our needs," Calvelli wrote. "Currently there is military satellite capability sitting on the ground due to Vulcan delays. ULA has a backlog of 25 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Vulcan launches on contract."
These 25 launches, Calvelli notes, are due to be completed by the end of 2027. He asked Boeing and Lockheed to complete an "independent review" of United Launch Alliance's ability to scale manufacturing of its Vulcan rockets and meet its commitments to the military.
Calvelli also noted that Vulcan has made commitments to launch dozens of satellites for others over that period, a reference to a contract between United Launch Alliance and Amazon for Project Kuiper satellites…..
That may be easier said than done. Vulcan's second certification mission was supposed to be the launch of the Dream Chaser spacecraft this summer. However, as Ars reported last month, that mission will no longer fly before at least September, if not later, because the spacecraft is not ready for its debut.
As a result, Space News reported on Monday that United Launch Alliance is increasingly likely to fly a mass simulator on the rocket's second flight later this year.
After certification, United Launch Alliance can begin to fly military missions. However, it is one thing to build one or two rockets, it is quite another to build them at scale.
The company's goal is to reach a cadence of two Vulcan launches a month by the end of 2025. In his letter, Calvelli mentioned that United Launch Alliance has averaged fewer than six launches a year during the last five years. This indicates a concern that such a goal may be unreasonable.
"History shows that new rockets struggle to scale their launch cadence in their early years," Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Space, told Ars. "Based on the number of missions the Department of Defense requires of ULA between now and 2027, precedent says Calvelli’s concerns are justified."
Air Force is “growing concerned” about the pace of Vulcan rocket launches
US military seeks an "independent review" to determine if Vulcan can scale.
…..For several years there have been rumblings about Air Force and Space Force officials being unhappy with the delays by United Launch Alliance, as well as with Blue Origin, which is building the BE-4 rocket engines that power Vulcan's first stage.
However, these concerns have rarely broken into public view.That changed Monday when The Washington Post reported on a letter from Air Force Assistant Secretary Frank Calvelli to the co-owners of United Launch Alliance, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
In the letter sent on May 10, a copy of which was obtained by Ars, Calvelli urges the two large aerospace contractors to get moving on certification and production of the Vulcan rocket.
"I am growing concerned with ULA’s ability to scale manufacturing of its Vulcan rocket and scale its launch cadence to meet our needs," Calvelli wrote. "Currently there is military satellite capability sitting on the ground due to Vulcan delays. ULA has a backlog of 25 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Vulcan launches on contract."
These 25 launches, Calvelli notes, are due to be completed by the end of 2027. He asked Boeing and Lockheed to complete an "independent review" of United Launch Alliance's ability to scale manufacturing of its Vulcan rockets and meet its commitments to the military.
Calvelli also noted that Vulcan has made commitments to launch dozens of satellites for others over that period, a reference to a contract between United Launch Alliance and Amazon for Project Kuiper satellites…..
That may be easier said than done. Vulcan's second certification mission was supposed to be the launch of the Dream Chaser spacecraft this summer. However, as Ars reported last month, that mission will no longer fly before at least September, if not later, because the spacecraft is not ready for its debut.
As a result, Space News reported on Monday that United Launch Alliance is increasingly likely to fly a mass simulator on the rocket's second flight later this year.
After certification, United Launch Alliance can begin to fly military missions. However, it is one thing to build one or two rockets, it is quite another to build them at scale.
The company's goal is to reach a cadence of two Vulcan launches a month by the end of 2025. In his letter, Calvelli mentioned that United Launch Alliance has averaged fewer than six launches a year during the last five years. This indicates a concern that such a goal may be unreasonable.
"History shows that new rockets struggle to scale their launch cadence in their early years," Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Space, told Ars. "Based on the number of missions the Department of Defense requires of ULA between now and 2027, precedent says Calvelli’s concerns are justified."
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From: Peripatetic
Slippages are on schedule….
Boeing Starliner launch delayed again — this time due to a leak
Boeing has again delayed the first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft.
The mission, which is set to test the spacecraft to iron out problems before it is pressed into full service in shuttling astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), was pushed back by at least four days, making the launch date no earlier than May 21.
Boeing said the latest delay was prompted by the discovery of a minor helium leak in the Starliner’s propulsion system.
The leak is associated with one of 28 thrusters on the spacecraft’s service module, which are used to manoeuvre the vehicle once in orbit. Helium is neither toxic nor combustible.
“Nasa and Boeing are developing spacecraft-testing and operational solutions to address the issue,” Boeing said of the new issue on Tuesday.
“As a part of the testing, Boeing will bring the propulsion system up to flight pressurisation just as it does prior to launch and then allow the helium system to vent naturally to validate existing data and strengthen flight rationale,” the aerospace giant added.
Boeing Starliner launch delayed again — this time due to a leak
Boeing has again delayed the first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft.
The mission, which is set to test the spacecraft to iron out problems before it is pressed into full service in shuttling astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), was pushed back by at least four days, making the launch date no earlier than May 21.
Boeing said the latest delay was prompted by the discovery of a minor helium leak in the Starliner’s propulsion system.
The leak is associated with one of 28 thrusters on the spacecraft’s service module, which are used to manoeuvre the vehicle once in orbit. Helium is neither toxic nor combustible.
“Nasa and Boeing are developing spacecraft-testing and operational solutions to address the issue,” Boeing said of the new issue on Tuesday.
“As a part of the testing, Boeing will bring the propulsion system up to flight pressurisation just as it does prior to launch and then allow the helium system to vent naturally to validate existing data and strengthen flight rationale,” the aerospace giant added.
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From: Peripatetic
https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield...-in-september/
United Launch Alliance to fly second Vulcan mission in September
United Launch Alliance expects its Vulcan rocket to conduct its second Space Force certification flight in September, positioning the launch vehicle to fly its first national security space missions this year, according to the company’s top executive.
Vulcan flew its first mission in January, but a second is required to confirm that the rocket can perform consistently across multiple flights. CEO Tory Bruno told reporters June 26 he’s confident the company will complete the certification process in time to meet the Space Force’s timelines.
“At the moment, we’re quite confident that the payloads will be there,” he said in a media briefing. “I’ll have the rockets. All I need are satellites, and I should be able to fly them.”
ULA, along with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is one of two companies with rockets cleared to fly national security space missions for DOD and the intelligence community. The company is in the process of replacing its legacy Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles — longtime workhorse rockets for the U.S. government — with the more powerful Vulcan.
The company previously expected Vulcan to begin flying national security missions in 2022, following certification by the Space Force that the rocket is cleared to fly high-value missions. Repeated delays — many involving the rocket’s BE-4 engine built by Blue Origin — have slowed that process
Blue Origin has largely overcome those engine setbacks, but ULA faced a new challenge in recent months when it learned that the payload for its second Space Force certification mission — Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane — was behind schedule.
Bruno told reporters that because of those delays and the need to certify Vulcan, the rocket will now carry an inert payload built by ULA as a backup. He described the payload as a mass simulator that will feature proprietary experiments and demonstrations that will inform future technology development for the company.
Once that mission launches, the company will work closely with the Space Force to support the necessary analysis to validate Vulcan’s performance. Bruno noted that because the service has had several months to review data from the rocket’s first mission, it shouldn’t take long to finalize the certification after the second flight.……
Bruno said that amid the reviews and the company’s focus on national security space launch certification, ULA is working to ensure its factories, launch facilities and supply chain are positioned to support an increased launch cadence in the coming years.
In 2025, ULA plans to launch 20 missions, some of which will fly on Vulcan and some on its Atlas V rocket.…..
United Launch Alliance to fly second Vulcan mission in September
United Launch Alliance expects its Vulcan rocket to conduct its second Space Force certification flight in September, positioning the launch vehicle to fly its first national security space missions this year, according to the company’s top executive.
Vulcan flew its first mission in January, but a second is required to confirm that the rocket can perform consistently across multiple flights. CEO Tory Bruno told reporters June 26 he’s confident the company will complete the certification process in time to meet the Space Force’s timelines.
“At the moment, we’re quite confident that the payloads will be there,” he said in a media briefing. “I’ll have the rockets. All I need are satellites, and I should be able to fly them.”
ULA, along with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is one of two companies with rockets cleared to fly national security space missions for DOD and the intelligence community. The company is in the process of replacing its legacy Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles — longtime workhorse rockets for the U.S. government — with the more powerful Vulcan.
The company previously expected Vulcan to begin flying national security missions in 2022, following certification by the Space Force that the rocket is cleared to fly high-value missions. Repeated delays — many involving the rocket’s BE-4 engine built by Blue Origin — have slowed that process
Blue Origin has largely overcome those engine setbacks, but ULA faced a new challenge in recent months when it learned that the payload for its second Space Force certification mission — Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane — was behind schedule.
Bruno told reporters that because of those delays and the need to certify Vulcan, the rocket will now carry an inert payload built by ULA as a backup. He described the payload as a mass simulator that will feature proprietary experiments and demonstrations that will inform future technology development for the company.
Once that mission launches, the company will work closely with the Space Force to support the necessary analysis to validate Vulcan’s performance. Bruno noted that because the service has had several months to review data from the rocket’s first mission, it shouldn’t take long to finalize the certification after the second flight.……
Bruno said that amid the reviews and the company’s focus on national security space launch certification, ULA is working to ensure its factories, launch facilities and supply chain are positioned to support an increased launch cadence in the coming years.
In 2025, ULA plans to launch 20 missions, some of which will fly on Vulcan and some on its Atlas V rocket.…..
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From: Peripatetic
Vulcan second certification flight took place today - and there was an anomaly with one of the SRBs. Looks like a blow through on the nozzle.
Got away with it, but it will need to be investigated.
VideoHere's another angle from this morning's flight of Vulcan Cert-2 and the anomalous behavior from SRB no. 1's nozzle section. First 1:12 slowed to 60% speed.
https://www.theweeklyspaceman.com/ar...out-capability
Vulcan flight 2 - SRB out capability!
At L+0:37 Vulcan SRB-1 had a mishap. Currently speculation, but it is thought that the nozzle blew off which led to a case crack. The booster maintained course and SRB separation happened successfully. Nominal insertion of the inert payload has been confirmed so this mishap did not determine the outcome of the flight success.
Got away with it, but it will need to be investigated.
VideoHere's another angle from this morning's flight of Vulcan Cert-2 and the anomalous behavior from SRB no. 1's nozzle section. First 1:12 slowed to 60% speed.
https://www.theweeklyspaceman.com/ar...out-capability
Vulcan flight 2 - SRB out capability!
At L+0:37 Vulcan SRB-1 had a mishap. Currently speculation, but it is thought that the nozzle blew off which led to a case crack. The booster maintained course and SRB separation happened successfully. Nominal insertion of the inert payload has been confirmed so this mishap did not determine the outcome of the flight success.
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From: Peripatetic
You can see the nozzle spiralling away nicely in this shot....
So I think they'll now be grounded by the FAA.
Oh! Wait a minute, they're not SpaceX, they'll be fine...
So I think they'll now be grounded by the FAA.
Oh! Wait a minute, they're not SpaceX, they'll be fine...
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From: Peripatetic
👀👀👀👀
FAA says no problem with the Vulcan launch:
FAA says no problem with the Vulcan launch:
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From: Peripatetic
.................
The US Space Force just confirmed what everyone already knew - SpaceX is the only reliable ride to orbit.
This realization cost the military something they can't buy back: time.
ULA's (a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) Vulcan rocket has been grounded twice in 18 months for the exact same problem: solid rocket booster nozzles literally burning through mid-flight.
Here is what's happening now:
.
→ 4 GPS satellite launches already swapped from Vulcan to Falcon 9,
→ The latest swapped GPS satellite is literally launching on a Falcon 9 TOMORROW,
→ Space Force 3-star general: Vulcan failures "absolutely" shape future contracts.
ULA has a backlog of 70 launches and has only flown 4 times since January 2024.
SpaceX flies more rockets in a single week than ULA flies in a year.
For political reasons, the government threw billions at ULA to keep them alive even when they know they can't do it, wasting time and taxpayer money on an unproven rocket instead of fully backing the clear winner SpaceX.
They handed the lion's share of the money and missions to ULA's unproven "paper rocket" just to prop up the old guard.
They bet on expendable rockets from the old guard, and it backfired.
You simply can't afford that mistake in a reusable world.
This realization cost the military something they can't buy back: time.
ULA's (a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) Vulcan rocket has been grounded twice in 18 months for the exact same problem: solid rocket booster nozzles literally burning through mid-flight.
Here is what's happening now:
.
→ 4 GPS satellite launches already swapped from Vulcan to Falcon 9,
→ The latest swapped GPS satellite is literally launching on a Falcon 9 TOMORROW,
→ Space Force 3-star general: Vulcan failures "absolutely" shape future contracts.
ULA has a backlog of 70 launches and has only flown 4 times since January 2024.
SpaceX flies more rockets in a single week than ULA flies in a year.
For political reasons, the government threw billions at ULA to keep them alive even when they know they can't do it, wasting time and taxpayer money on an unproven rocket instead of fully backing the clear winner SpaceX.
They handed the lion's share of the money and missions to ULA's unproven "paper rocket" just to prop up the old guard.
They bet on expendable rockets from the old guard, and it backfired.
You simply can't afford that mistake in a reusable world.
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From: Everett, WA
For political reasons, the government threw billions at ULA to keep them alive even when they know they can't do it, wasting time and taxpayer money on an unproven rocket instead of fully backing the clear winner SpaceX.
They handed the lion's share of the money and missions to ULA's unproven "paper rocket" just to prop up the old guard.
They handed the lion's share of the money and missions to ULA's unproven "paper rocket" just to prop up the old guard.
There is history behind this. In the mid 1980's, the USAF had two launch systems available - the Space Shuttle and the Titan III. Then both suffered catastrophic failures and were grounded for an extended period - leaving the USAF with no available access to orbit.
They don't want that to happen again.
