United Launch Alliance (ULA) may close the year with its new Vulcan rocket still on the ground after support equipment issues nixed a full-duration practice launch countdown, the company said on Dec. 10.
In preparation for Vulcan’s debut on Dec. 24, ULA conducted a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-41 on Dec. 8.
“Vehicle performed well,” ULA CEO Tory Bruno posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Dec. 10. “Ground system had a couple of issues,” which were “routine” and are being corrected, he added.
However, the issues, which were not disclosed, kept ULA from completing the practice launch countdown. “I’d like a full WDR before our first flight, so [Christmas] Eve is likely out” for launch, Bruno said.
The mission is the first of two needed to certify the Vulcan-Centaur rocket for national security launch services. The primary payload for Vulcan’s first flight is Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander.
If Vulcan misses its Dec. 24-26 launch window, the next opportunity to fly Peregrine to the Moon is on Jan. 8, Bruno said.
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