The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) is GO for Friday’s liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket on the Certification-2 (Cert-2) flight test.

Liftoff is scheduled for 6:00 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.The LRR, led by ULA Launch Director Eric Richards, was completed this morning at the Advanced Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC).

Leadership from ULA and the Space Force assessed the readiness of the rocket, payload and mission assets, discussed the status of pre-flight processing work, heard technical overviews of the countdown and flight, and previewed the weather forecast that projects a 75 percent chance of meeting the launch rules.

At the conclusion of the meeting, senior leaders were polled and gave a ready status for launch, then signed the Launch Readiness Certificate. 

The Vulcan VC2S rocket, designated V-002, stands 202 feet (61.6 meters) tall and will launch an inert payload into deep space while fulfilling certification requirements with the Space Force to perform future national security missions.

ULA will offer live reports from launch control in our automatically refreshing blog beginning Friday at 12 midnight EDT (0400 UTC). The launch webcast starts at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 UTC).

Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Vulcan launch carrying the Cert-2 mission. The mission is planned to lift off on Friday, October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 6:00 a.m. EDT. Today’s forecast shows an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. 

Launch Forecast Summary:

• Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%
• Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
• Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 25%
• Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule

ULA L-3 Update Vulcan Cert-2 mission ready for launch

Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Vulcan launch carrying the Cert-2 mission. The mission is planned to lift off on Friday, October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 6:00 a.m. EDT. 

The Cert-2 mission serves as the second of two certification flights required for the U.S. Space Force’s certification process. Vulcan continues the legacy of Atlas as the world’s only high energy architecture rocket and ushers in a new, innovative capability to meet the ever-growing requirements of space launch. 

Today’s forecast shows a 75 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. 

Launch Forecast Summary:

• Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 25%
• Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
• Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 25%
• Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule

Vulcan rolls out for Wet Dress Rehearsal preparing to launch on second certification mission (CERT-2)

Vulcan rolled to Space Launch Complex-41 today in preparation for the Cert-2 flight test. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than Friday at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan VC2S rocket will launch the second certification (Cert-2) mission from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Friday, October 4, 2024 during a window of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT. The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is the second of two test flights required for ULA’s certification process with the U.S. Space Force.

It’s rollout day. ULA is making final preparations for Cert-2 rollout day at Cape Canaveral!

The second #VulcanRocket will move to Space Launch Complex-41 for this week’s Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) prior to the launch no earlier than Friday at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC).

Payload Mate: Vulcan Cert-2

United Launch Alliance (ULA) hoists the Cert-2 mission payload atop the Vulcan rocket in the Vertical Integration Facility-G (VIF-G) adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance

This week’s Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) will see the #Cert2 #VulcanRocket loaded with a million pounds of cryogenic propellants at Space Launch Complex-41 and put through a complete countdown procedure as part of certification.

For #Cert2 flight, the #VulcanRocket is flying in the Vulcan VC2S variant. It uses two BE-4 methane-fueled main engines, two GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, dual RL10C-1-1A engines on the Centaur V upper stage and a standard-length, 5.4m Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) payload fairing.

GO Vulcan! GO Centaur! GO Cert-2! 


ULA to launch Vulcan second certification mission, and continues the legacy of Atlas

The United Launch Alliance second Vulcan certification flight (Cert-2) is scheduled for no earlier than (NET) October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, during a window of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT.

The Cert-2 mission serves as the second of two certification flights required for the U.S. Space Force’s certification process. Vulcan continues the legacy of Atlas as the world’s only high energy architecture rocket and ushers in a new, innovative capability to meet the ever-growing requirements of space launch. 

United Launch Alliance (ULA) hoists its Centaur V upper stage atop the Vulcan Cert-2 booster into the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance

The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is the second of two test flights required for ULA’s certification process with the U.S. Space Force.