ULA's Vulcan Centaur Achieves Orbital Insertion Despite SRB Anomaly on Second Certification Flight

Oct 4, 2024, 10:59 AM

United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its Vulcan Centaur rocket on its second certification flight, known as Cert-2, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:25 a.m. EDT (1125 UTC) on October 4, 2024. The mission aims to secure certification from the U.S. Space Force to carry high-priority national security payloads. The launch, initially scheduled for 6 a.m. EDT, faced multiple holds due to technical issues but ultimately proceeded within the designated three-hour window. Weather conditions were 95% favorable for the launch. Despite a minor anomaly observed with one of the solid rocket boosters (SRB-1), the rocket achieved a bullseye orbital insertion. The Cert-2 mission carried a largely inert payload with a few experiments to be conducted in deep space. ULA's CEO, Tory Bruno, expressed satisfaction with the rocket's performance, noting that the team would review the booster issue. The Centaur 5 upper stage performed well during the mission. This successful launch marks a significant step toward ULA's goal of supporting critical national security missions later this year.