United Launch Alliance (ULA) is making significant progress in preparing for the upcoming launch of its first Vulcan Centaur rocket, slated for late December. In a recent briefing with reporters on November 15, ULA Chief Executive Tory Bruno revealed that the Centaur upper stage for the mission, designated Cert-1, arrived at Cape Canaveral on November 13. Work is currently underway to integrate the stage with the Vulcan booster.
Following the integration, ULA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal, involving the loading of propellants on both stages, as a practice countdown. Bruno highlighted the meticulous preparations, emphasizing that they are pacing ahead of schedule. The primary payload for Cert-1 is Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, tasked with carrying payloads for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and other customers. The launch windows for this mission are on December 24, with backup opportunities on December 25 and 26, setting the stage for a lunar landing around January 25.
Notably, Cert-1 serves as a crucial test for the upgraded Centaur 5. Bruno stated that additional maneuvers would be performed to validate and learn about the Centaur 5, providing valuable insights for future missions. A successful Cert-1 mission would pave the way for Cert-2, scheduled for the first or second quarter of 2024, carrying Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spacecraft.
Despite discussing the future trajectory of the Vulcan program, Bruno remained discreet regarding recent speculations about ULA's potential acquisition. In a Bloomberg interview in October, Bruno acknowledged ULA's attractiveness as an acquisition target but refrained from commenting on specific details. Recent reports suggest that three companies, including Blue Origin, are finalists for the acquisition.
As ULA continues its transformation and extended presence in the commercial marketplace, Bruno emphasized the company's strong position, refraining from speculation on any merger or acquisition situation. The company plans to increase the Vulcan launch rate to twice a month by the end of 2025, addressing a backlog of 70 launches for both government and commercial customers.