ULA Delays Vulcan Rocket Launch to 2024, Ground System Issues Prevent Debut Flight this Christmas

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 10 December 2023, 10:12 pm

The recent update from United Launch Alliance confirms another delay for the Vulcan rocket's launch, and instead of a Christmas Eve flight, it will see its debut next year. Supposedly, the powerful booster rocket is set to debut in Cape Canaveral, Florida this 2023, with the recent tests dictating the course it will follow, ultimately leading to a massive delay on the project.

ULA Delays Vulcan Rocket Launch to 2024

United Launch Alliance's President and CEO, Tory Bruno, broke the news and updated the world regarding the company's new heavy-lift rocket, the Vulcan, saying that its maiden flight is delayed until 2024.

(Photo : Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)

The space company's CEO claimed that its first possible Peregrine window for the supposed launch is slated for January 8, falling into the second week of the new year.

This followed the recent wet dress rehearsal of both the Vulcan rocket and the Centaur V upper stage, taking place in SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Its goal on the recent test was to "simulate a launch day" which looked to test the rocket and its pad systems.

Bruno further said that its scheduled Christmas Eve debut flight of the Vulcan is "likely out."

Ground System Issues Prevent Flight

The update from Bruno further detailed what happened over at SLC-41, with the Vulcan Rocket seeing a different kind of problem, centering on its ground system issues. The CEO further clarified that this focuses on the routine issues of its ground system that are also factored in for the Vulcan launch.

Vulcan's wet dress rehearsal performed well, as per Bruno, but the issues it found are already under correction by the company, with the delay only a few weeks before its actual launch.

Bruno further said that it will soon publicize the details of its January 2024 launch of the rocket.

United Launch Alliance Ventures

One of the biggest stories regarding United Launch Alliance is its sale to other space companies, with the renowned almost two-decade-old company seeing various names interested in buying them. The joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin formed United Launch Alliance that will center on a significant commercial space offer, with companies like Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman said to be interested.

That being said, the Vulcan is one of its latest and last efforts into creating a rocket by the original ULA, and it is a heavy-lift vehicle that looks to improve more on its previous builds and machines. However, it recently faced an explosion for its upper stage, the Centaur, in its tests last March, with the company already delivering a fix, with the recent events testing its capabilities.

After the recent wet dress rehearsal of the ULA Vulcan, the company deemed it to be still seeing issues that are not yet ready for an actual launch, supposedly slated for Christmas Eve this 2023.

That being said, Bruno claimed that Vulcan's performance is good on this recent test by the company, but is already correcting the issues found on its ground system, hopefully seeing a launch by 2024, delaying the anticipated venture of the rocket.