After weeks of delays, the United Launch Alliance is ready to launch its first Vulcan rocket — a test flight that will be the first to send a private lunar lander to the moon — but if you want to see the historic liftoff, you need to know when and how. For that, space fans, we've got you covered.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch from ULA's Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 2:18 am EST (0718 GMT) In its Cert-1 mission to demonstrate its readiness for commercial and government aircraft. You can watch the Vulcan rocket launch live online starting at 1:30 am EST (0630 GMT).
The rocket is also carrying the Peregrine Moon Lander, a private mission built by US firm Astrobotic, which is carrying six probes to NASA as the first flight of the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. The mission will be the first US lunar landing attempt since Apollo 17 in 1972 and, if successful, will be the first private mission to land safely on the moon.
Astrobotic's Peregrine is carrying a dozen other payloads to the moon for paying customers, including delivery service DHL, a digital art gallery and human DNA samples, as well as cremated remains for space burials Celestis and Elysium.
What is ULA's first Vulcan Centaur launch time?
Currently, ULA is targeting January 8th 2:18 am EST (0718 GMT) The first Vulcan Centaur test flight is scheduled to begin, but the launch could happen anytime within a 45-minute window. 3:03 am EST (0803 GMT). This work is done on Dec. Launch was scheduled for the 24th, but ULA postponed it to January to accommodate a full fuel rehearsal.
That's the longest of ULA's release windows for four flight opportunities this week, which include backup dates on Jan. 9, 10 and 11.
A January 8 launch forecast promises better weather for four launch opportunities this week. There is a 85% chance of good weather On that day January 8 is the release dateBut the The chance of good weather drops to 40% on January 9 Due to thick clouds, and 45% for both January 10 and 11According to Melody Lowe, a meteorologist with the 45th Weather Wing at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Can ULA's 1st Vulcan launch be seen online?
Yes, you can watch ULA's Vulcan Centaur Cert-1 test flight launch online.
The U.S. space agency will provide a live webcast of the launch as NASA conducts several tests of Vulcan's payload, the Peregrine Moon Lander. Liftoff is now set 2:18 am ESTNASA's webcast begins 1:30 am EST (0630 GMT). You can watch the live webcast in the window at the top of this page or directly NASA + app, NASA YouTube Channel and NASA television broadcasts.
ULA will also host its own webcast, which you can watch ULA's YouTube channelas well as ULA's Vulcan Centaur Cert-1 mission page.
Both webcasts will cover the last hour before launch and then follow the Vulcan Centaur rocket through launch, stage separation and its first major milestones in orbit. The Peregrine Moon lander is scheduled to separate from Vulcan's Centaur upper stage four hours and 24 minutes later, but ULA may end its livestream before that milestone. Updates can be shared via XFormerly Twitter.
How long was ULA's 1st Vulcan Centaur rocket mission?
From launch to completion, ULA's Vulcan Centaur Cert-1 test flight It is expected to last around 4 hours and 24 minutes, according to a task perspective. During that period, the Vulcan rocket will launch, exit its first stage, and deploy the Peregrine Moon Lander 50 minutes after liftoff on a so-called “translunar” trajectory to the Moon. Meanwhile, the Centaur upper stage will automatically continue into deep space for a final orbit around the Sun.
If all goes well, Peregrine It will land on the moon on February 23 In an area known as the Sinus Viscositatis or Bay of Stickiness, it is adjacent to a cluster of features known as the Krutheisen Domes. Below is the timeline of the Vulcan Centaur Cert-1 test flight.
| Time (hr:min:sec) | event |
|---|---|
| D-0:00:04.9 | BE-4 Engine Ignition |
| T+0:00:01.1 | liftoff |
| T+0:00:07.9 | Pitch/yaw maneuver |
| T+0:01:09.9 | Mach 1 |
| T+0:01:16.1 | Maximum k |
| T+0:01:50.3 | SRB Jettison |
| T+0:04:58.9 | Booster engine cutoff |
| T+0:05:05 | Booster/centaur level separation |
| T+0:05:14.9 | Centaur main engine start |
| T+0:05:23 | Payload fairing jettison |
| T+0:15:45.4 | Centaur 1st Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) |
| T+0:43:35>7 | Centaur 2nd main engine start |
| T+0:47:37 | Centaur 2nd main engine cutoff |
| T+0:50:26 | Separation of Peregrine |
| T+1:18:23.9 | Centaur 3rd main engine start |
| T+1:18:43.8 | Centaur 3rd main engine cutoff |
| T+4:24:44.5 | End of mission |
What if ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket can't launch?
If ULA can't launch the Vulcan rocket's Cert-1 mission on Jan. 8, the agency could try for three more days before being grounded for several weeks. Jan. ULA has a four-day window to begin this mission on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th.
“Those four days are opportunities for that,” Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government and commercial programs, told reporters Friday (Jan. 5). “Obviously, as we go through the flow, the number of backtracking attempts depends on how far we calculate and how much fuel and materials we use in the process, assuming a weather delay or something. Like that.” A technical glitch or problem can lead to long delays.
The chart below shows the release times and length of the release window for each day in the window. The length of the launch window is determined by the orbital dynamics required for Vulcan to launch Astrobotic's Peregrine lander to the Moon.
| Release date | Release time | window length |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, January 8 | 2:18 am EST (0718 GMT) | 45 minutes |
| Tuesday, January 9 | 12:15 am EST (0715 GMT) | 9 minutes |
| Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 12:12 am EST (0712 GMT) | 1 minute |
| Thursday, January 11 | 12:14 am EST (0714 GMT) | 3 minutes |
If ULA is unable to launch the Vulcan Cert-1 mission within its four-day window, the agency Jan. Have to wait till 23rd The Peregrine lander will have to try again because of the orbital dynamics required to deliver it to the moon, Wentz said.
Correction: This article was updated on January 7 to correct the timing of events for the separation of the Peregrine Moon Lander and the end of the mission for the Vulcan Centaur test flight. The Peregrine lander will separate 50 minutes after liftoff, while the Centaur upper stage will complete its mission 4 hours and 24 minutes after liftoff.
Correction: This article was updated on January 7 to correct the timing of events for the separation of the Peregrine Moon Lander and the end of the mission for the Vulcan Centaur test flight. The Peregrine lander will separate 50 minutes after liftoff, while the Centaur upper stage will complete its mission 4 hours and 24 minutes after liftoff.
Editor's note: Visit Space.com on Monday, January 8th to watch ULA's first Vulcan Centaur rocket lift off from Astrobotic's Peregrine Moon Lander at 2:18 a.m. EDT (0718 GMT). The live webcast is expected to begin at 1:30 am EST (0630 GMT).
