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United Launch Alliance has set a target date for the first flight of the Vulcan Centaur rocket to be May 4, 2023. announced In a conference call with reporters during the four-day launch window starting May 4, he explained the factors that prompted the company to come up with the schedule.
according to parabolic arc, the primary “pacing item” for the launch is Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine that powers the rocket’s first stage. The company is still working on its certification as it found some discrepancies in what ULA tested. I would like to confirm that
The ULA will also have to conduct a series of tests for the heavy lifting rocket, including a wet dress rehearsal where it must be fully loaded with propellant and complete a practice countdown. Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine lunar lander must be able to go into space and orbit to the moon within a specific time frame each month.
The Vulcan Centaur was scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2022, but Astrobotic asked the ULA to delay the launch to give it time to complete its NASA-funded lunar lander. Bruno said Astrobotic just finished testing Peregrine and will soon be making final preparations before shipping it to the rocket launch site at Space Force Station Cape Canaveral in Florida.
In addition to the lunar lander, the rocket will also carry into space two prototype satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation. The deployment of demo satellites will allow Amazon to collect real-world data to finalize the design and operational planning of its broadband satellite system.
A new era for the ULA will begin when the Vulcan Centaur makes its maiden flight on May 4th. We plan to eventually replace the Delta IV Heavy and Atlas Rocket with the Vulcan Centaur. remaining launch obligations.
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