ULA’s New Rockeret Set to Certify for US Space Force Use

  • ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket is set for its second-ever launch on October 4
  • Launch readiness review completed successfully
  • Cert-2 mission to help get the rocket certified for use by the U.S. Space Force
  • Vulcan Centaur’s debut flight, Cert-1, sent a private moon lander to Earth orbit in January
  • Mission will carry an inert mass simulator and extra instrumentation for detailed performance assessment
  • ULA aims to launch 20 missions in 2025, half with Vulcan Centaur and half with Atlas V
  • Dream Chaser space plane mission planned for 2025

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has completed a launch readiness review for the Vulcan Centaur rocket’s second mission, Cert-2. The test flight aims to certify the rocket for use by the U.S. Space Force. If successful, the Vulcan Centaur will replace the Atlas V and conduct national security missions. The debut flight sent a private moon lander to Earth orbit in January. This time, an inert mass simulator and extra instrumentation will be carried for detailed performance assessment. ULA plans 20 missions in 2025, half with Vulcan Centaur and half with Atlas V.

Factuality Level: 9
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the Vulcan Centaur rocket’s second mission, Cert-2, including details on the launch readiness review, the launch window, and the purpose of the test flight. It also includes quotes from ULA CEO Tory Bruno regarding the performance of the debut flight and future plans for the Vulcan Centaur rocket. The article is informative and objective without any significant issues related to digressions, misleading information, or personal perspective.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket’s second test flight, Cert-2, including details on the launch readiness review and previous mission performance. It also mentions future plans for the rocket’s usage in national security missions and potential collaboration with Dream Chaser space plane. However, it could benefit from more analysis or context about the significance of these developments in the broader space industry.
Public Companies: United Launch Alliance (ULA), Sierra Space ()
Key People: Tory Bruno (CEO of ULA)


Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the launch of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is a significant event for the space industry. However, it does not directly impact financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article, and even though there were some issues with the previous mission’s payload (Peregrine moon lander), they did not have a significant impact on people or infrastructure. The current focus is on the upcoming Vulcan Centaur rocket launch, which is a technological advancement rather than an extreme event.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: Technology
Direction: Up
Magnitude: Small
Affected Instruments: Stocks

Reported publicly: www.space.com