United Launch Alliance introduces Vulcan next generation launcher

So... Vulcan will not recover the two BE-4's? The ammunition age continues! They -- the legacy aerospace companies AND NASA -- continue the buggy-whip line as the cars replace the horses. Take the pork out of this game and they'll wise up real quick. Or, go the way of the buggy-whip makers.
 
So... Vulcan will not recover the two BE-4's? The ammunition age continues! They -- the legacy aerospace companies AND NASA -- continue the buggy-whip line as the cars replace the horses. Take the pork out of this game and they'll wise up real quick. Or, go the way of the buggy-whip makers.

There is no pork. Low cost is the key, not reusability. Reusability is only a means to achieve low cost.
But then again, the Navy doesn't train personnel to be knowledgeable about spaceflight.
 
I was wondering how Vulcan compares to the Delta IV Heavy the last of the Delta rocket family in terms of payload carrying capability? Would there be a future Heavy lift variant of the Vulcan to replace the Delta IV Heavy?

Vulcan can do the Delta IV Heavy mission with a single core and 6 SRM's with an enlarged upper stage due to come online in 2023 (after Delta IV Heavy is retired).
 
View: https://twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1304225410415239174


@torybruno any comment on this? if true, it for sure would mean Vulcan doesn’t fly in 2021.

View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1304491712409108480


I expect to fly in 2021. Don't know where this came from

View: https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1304229356932268032


12 months from now is September, 2020. That’s a reasonable NET date.

View: https://twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1304230318090719232


My brain 100% skipped the 12 month part and only read 18 months ‍♂️ yeah my bet is that Vulcan will fly in 2021. Seems like @torybruno is going to make that happen.
 
View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1330889385303289864


"ULA" can be seen from space on top of the CAT! The satellite's-eye view of SLC-41 shows #VulcanCentaur pad mods--liquefied natural gas ground systems, increased fuel & oxidizer storage capacity, an upgraded acoustic water suppression system & a renovated rail system :mad:Maxar
View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1333502238128545799


Off to the pneumatic test facility! This time lapse really shows the size of the #VulcanCentaur booster stage as it was transported to pressure testing. The booster is 5.4 m (17.7 ft) in diameter compared to #AtlasV’s common core booster that is 3.8 m (12.5 ft).
 
View: https://twitter.com/astrokevin_133/status/1336029664624701440


Will it be a complete pathfinder vehicle that ends up not flying like the old static fire Delta CBC at the AF Space Museum? Or are you installing these engines temporarily on a flight booster?

View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1336058066652028928


Flight booster. The path finder BE4s will be swapped out for flight engines

View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1336058602608619520


Vulcan will fly next year when our customer, @astrobotic ,is ready with their, first ever, commercial Peregrine lunar lander

View: https://twitter.com/astro_karthik_/status/1336023223406911491


Will vulcan be used for human flights like dragon?
 
View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1336060298378293252



View: https://twitter.com/voltikz/status/1336058783831908353


What exactly is the purpose of the path finder BE4s, are they fully functional or are they there to literally path find the plumbing and mounting for when the real engines come

View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1336062146854195204


They started at the dock in Decatur and will end beneath a Vulcan booster on the SLC41 pad at Cape Canaveral after a wet dress rehearsal, path finding everything in between.

View: https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1336063166632095746


Still planning for a Flight Readiness Firing at the end of pathfinder ops?

View: https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1336064030298009602


We'll do that with the flight engines
 
View: https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1360613746041757696


Stephen Clark said:
A test article for ULA’s Vulcan rocket has arrived at Cape Canaveral for pathfinder testing. Two BE-4 test engines on the rear. Here it is fresh off ULA’s RocketShip transport vessel.
View: https://twitter.com/free_space/status/1360608058762788869


Vulcan Pathfinder with Blue Origin BE-4 engines heading to ULA Vertical Integration Facility
View: https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1360620098071977984


Presenting the first Vulcan rocket stage. After pathfinder testing, those two Blue Origin BE-4 development engines will get replaced with flight engines, and this booster will launch to space!
 
As some have said online they might as well have called it Atlas VI going on the appearance.


View: https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1360640446507155459


Ain’t she a beaut!

ULA’s next-gen rocket, #Vulcan, has arrived at the Cape for fit checks and tanking test. It’s so exciting to have a brand new rocket to light up the Space Coast!

The debut flight is set for later this year.

View: https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1360640458100203521


With the first stage powered by two Blue Origin BE-4 engines, #Vulcan will emit a beautiful blue flame as it pushes all sorts of scientific, commercial, and national security payloads to orbit.
 
View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1361372071876526082


ULA said:
Today's operation, known as Launch Vehicle on Stand (LVOS), is testing the procedures, handling hardware and clearances for maneuvering the massive stage into the Vertical Integration Facility. It's all part of #CountdownToVulcan!

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1361375818853793793


ULA said:
#DYK? #VulcanCentaur is purpose-built to meet all of the challenging requirements demanded by U.S. national security space launches while being flexible and affordable. The single-core #VulcanCentaur has more lifting capacity than #DeltaIVHeavy at a fraction of the cost.

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1361378982810296324


ULA said:
This spring, the Vulcan Launch Platform will move the pathfinder rocket to Space Launch Complex-41 for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen fuel-loading trials. Those tests will demonstrate the pad's transformation into a dual-use site for #AtlasV and #VulcanCentaur.

View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1361381620180262916


ULA said:
#VulcanCentaur combines the best of today's #AtlasV and #DeltaIVHeavy with the latest technology advancements to produce a single launch system that provides higher performance and greater affordability while continuing to deliver ULA's unmatched reliability and precision.
 
View: https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1376973266238197762


Have you checked out ULA's new 7-episode #VulcanCentaur podcast yet?


VULCAN CENTAUR: THE PODCAST
Join us as we sit down with the team that's bringing our newest rocket, Vulcan Centaur, to life.

Listen from this page or subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Audible, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Episode 1: The Future of Space Launch
Episode 2: Part 1 - Designing Solutions for the Nation's Most Critical Needs
Episode 3: Part 2 - Designing Solutions for the Nation's Most Critical Needs
Episode 4: Meet Our Rocket Scientist
Episode 5: Part 1 - Reaching New Heights
Episode 6: Part 2 - Reaching New Heights
Episode 7: T-Minus
 
ULA Vulcan is in Trouble

ULA has informed Space Force that USSF-51 mission has to be transferred to Atlas V Rocket
Do unable to launch the Mission on Vulcan in late 2022.
Why ?
Blue Origin is unable to provide qualified Flight BE-4 Engines for Vulcan !
The current BE-4 are pathfinder engines for GROUND TESTING ONLY.
While in interview Bezos confirmed that New Glenn will be ready only in 2023...

How far this will affect role of SpaceX ?
They could take majority of Security Space Launch Phase 2 contracts...

Source:
 

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