United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched its first fully operational Vulcan rocket system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday night at 8:56 p.m. Eastern time. The launch, powered by two methane-fueled BE-4 engines, carried two military satellites for the U.S. Space Force’s initial sanctioned flight of this new vehicle.
After three and a half minutes, the second stage Centaur rocket ignited with two hydrogen-fueled Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engines, placing the payload into geosynchronous orbit above the Equator. The Centaur system is designed to deliver heavy payloads into complex orbits without requiring significant fuel use from the satellites themselves.
One of the satellites will conduct a classified mission, while the other will test new navigation technology and atomic clocks that could support future jam-resistant GPS data for global navigation.
The workforce behind this mission includes members of IAM Local 610 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Local 971 in Jupiter, Florida, and Local 44 in Decatur, Alabama. This launch marks ULA’s 101st successful rocket launch.
“This was the 101st successful launch of a ULA rocket system thanks to the hard work and dedication of this multi talented group of IAM Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings.”