United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its newest rocket system, the Vulcan, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday night. The launch took place at 8:56 p.m. Eastern daylight time, with two methane-fueled BE-4 engines providing three million pounds of thrust to send the rocket into orbit.
The mission marked the first fully operational flight of ULA’s Vulcan rocket and carried two military satellites for the U.S. Space Force. After three and a half minutes, two hydrogen-fueled Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engines powered the Centaur second stage, guiding it toward geosynchronous orbit above the Equator.
One of the satellites will conduct a classified mission, while the other is set to test new navigation technology and atomic clocks that could support development of jam-resistant GPS systems for global navigation.
The workforce behind this launch includes members of IAM Local 610 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Local 971 in Jupiter, Florida, and Local 44 in Decatur, Alabama. This event 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.”
