ULA completes second Vulcan national security certification launch

Vulcan lifts off on Cert-2 flight. (ULA)

United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the Vulcan space launch vehicle on its second flight on 4 October, intended to certify the rocket to carry national security payloads.

The rocket, arranged in VC2S configuration, with a Centaur V upper stage, and two Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, and a standard 5.4 m (17.7 ft) payload fairing, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 0730 h Eastern Time, carrying a mass simulator and “experiments and demonstrations associated with future capabilities” for the upper stage, according to a ULA statement.

The nozzle on one of the two GEM-63XL solid rocket boosters appeared to crack during lift-off, causing “reduced, asymmetric thrust”, according to a social media post by ULA CEO Tory Bruno, but the booster compensated for the condition and sent the Centaur to its desired orbit without further incident.

“We had an observation on one of our solid rocket boosters that we are reviewing, but we are overall pleased with the rocket's performance and had a bullseye insertion,” Bruno said in a statement.

The launch was intended to certify Vulcan to launch national security payloads, including those from the US Space Force (USSF) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which are often considered vital to national security and can cost upwards of USD1 billion each.