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Vulcan Centaur

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BE-4 oxygen valve blamed for New Glenn explosion, prompting rapid engine fixes
spacelaunch22 days ago

BE-4 oxygen valve blamed for New Glenn explosion, prompting rapid engine fixes

Blue Origin has traced the May explosion of its New Glenn rocket to a liquid oxygen valve on one BE-4 engine, and is conducting extensive tests to understand the failure and inform mitigations. The company plans small retrofits to the valve and has hardware updates ready by the end of the month. Because the BE-4 engine powers ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, the findings could affect that program as well, though ULA has not announced a return-to-flight schedule. Blue Origin remains focused on rebuilding Launch Complex 36 and aiming for New Glenn’s flight return by year’s end.

via SpaceNews|
#be-4#blue-origin#lox-valve
ULA relies on parent backing to weather Vulcan grounding
business1 month ago

ULA relies on parent backing to weather Vulcan grounding

ULA’s Vulcan Centaur grounding due to booster nozzle anomalies has prompted its corporate parents to guarantee up to $500 million in borrowings to bolster liquidity, with Lockheed Martin recognizing a $64 million increase in its investment to reflect the guarantee’s fair value. The issues stem from booster anomalies on two Vulcan launches, leaving Vulcan idle since USSF-87 as Northrop Grumman works on redesigned motors, Space Force considers manifest adjustments, and Atlas 5 flights continue while Starliner faces schedule uncertainty. ULA had planned a high launch cadence for 2026 but has a backlogged pipeline of more than 80 missions, and both parents say they may provide further liquidity if needed, though impairment risks exist if Vulcan underperforms.

via SpaceNews|
#boeing#business#lockheed-martin
NASA selects SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch SunRISE space-weather mission
space1 month ago

NASA selects SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch SunRISE space-weather mission

NASA’s SunRISE space-weather mission, a six-satellite heliophysics array that will form a giant radio telescope in Earth orbit to study solar radio bursts, will now launch on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy instead of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur. The rideshare, sponsored by the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command, follows a booster anomaly on Vulcan that prompted a pause of certain launches. SunRISE is designed to improve space-weather prediction models (not as an alert system) and is led by University of Michigan scientists with NASA’s JPL managing; a Falcon Heavy launch is also slated for NASA’s Nancy Roman Space Telescope later this year.

via Space|
#nasa#space#space-weather
Northrop ramps up charges on Vulcan boosters as redesigned GEM-63XL delivery slips
business1 month ago

Northrop ramps up charges on Vulcan boosters as redesigned GEM-63XL delivery slips

Northrop Grumman booked a $91 million unfavorable adjustment for its GEM63XL solid rocket motors used on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur boosters, after a $71 million charge earlier this year, and said redesigned motors cleared in a static-fire test should be delivered by year-end (though launch timing remains uncertain). A February Vulcan flight had a significant anomaly, and the U.S. Space Force/DoD are weighing configurations that avoid solid boosters. Northrop expects space-division sales to rise in the second half on higher program volumes and new awards, while HALO’s future faces reassessment as NASA shifts away from Gateway toward a lunar base, with the module potentially repurposed and the contract restructured.

via SpaceNews|
#business#gateway#gem-63xl
Northrop Grumman absorbs $71M charge over Vulcan booster anomaly
launch4 months ago

Northrop Grumman absorbs $71M charge over Vulcan booster anomaly

Northrop Grumman booked a $71 million unfavorable adjustment to earnings in Q1 2026 to cover evaluation and corrective actions after a GEM 63XL booster anomaly on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur during the February USSF-87 launch. The incident shed debris but did not derail the mission; Space Force and ULA are pursuing a root-cause investigation with no fixed return-to-flight timeline, and possible Vulcan configurations without boosters are being considered.

via SpaceNews|
#booster-anomaly#gem-63xl#launch
GPS III-8 heads to SpaceX Falcon 9 after Vulcan glitch
space5 months ago

GPS III-8 heads to SpaceX Falcon 9 after Vulcan glitch

The US Space Force moved GPS III-8’s launch from ULA’s Vulcan Centaur to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 due to solid rocket booster anomalies on Vulcan; the 10th GPS III satellite is now set to launch no earlier than late April from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with officials stressing flexibility to maintain timely GPS capability while the Vulcan investigation continues.

via Space|
#falcon-9#gps#space
ULA’s Vulcan setback clouds 2026 Space Force launch schedule
technology6 months ago

ULA’s Vulcan setback clouds 2026 Space Force launch schedule

ULA’s Vulcan Centaur delivered two Space Force satellites but vented an unusual debris plume from a solid booster, prompting a Space Force pause on all military launches aboard the rocket while investigators determine the cause. A prior similar issue on another Vulcan flight and potential delays to GPS 3 and related missions could push launches into May and beyond, with officials weighing a transfer to SpaceX to avoid cascading delays. ULA still aims for 18–22 Vulcan flights in 2026, but the investigation could stretch months and jeopardize the timetable.

via Gizmodo|
#booster-anomaly#gps-3#space-force
"ULA's Historic Farewell: Final Launch of 'Most Metal' Delta IV Heavy Rocket"
spacetechnology2 years ago

"ULA's Historic Farewell: Final Launch of 'Most Metal' Delta IV Heavy Rocket"

United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket is set for its final mission, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office as part of the NROL-70 mission. The dramatic liftoff, described as the "most metal," will mark the end of an iconic era that began over 60 years ago. After the Delta IV Heavy's final flight, ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket is poised to take over, continuing the legacy of space exploration.

via Gizmodo|
#delta-iv-heavy#rocket-launch#space-exploration
"End of an Era: Delta IV Heavy's Final Launch Marks the Conclusion of 60 Years of Delta Rockets on Space Coast"
space-and-technology2 years ago

"End of an Era: Delta IV Heavy's Final Launch Marks the Conclusion of 60 Years of Delta Rockets on Space Coast"

The final launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket is set to take place on the Space Coast, marking the end of more than 60 years of Delta rockets launching American missions into space. United Launch Alliance (ULA) is replacing the Delta IV and Atlas V rockets with the new Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is expected to provide more value and capability at a lower cost. The launch is scheduled for Thursday, with backup opportunities on Friday and Monday if necessary.

via WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando|
#delta-iv-heavy#rocket-launch#space-and-technology
"Anticipating ULA's Delta IV Heavy Launch: Weather Conditions in Question"
spacespaceflight2 years ago

"Anticipating ULA's Delta IV Heavy Launch: Weather Conditions in Question"

The final launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled for Thursday from Cape Canaveral, but weather conditions remain a concern. The launch, carrying the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, marks the end of an era in American spaceflight history. The successor to the Delta IV Heavy, the Vulcan Centaur, is set to revolutionize United Launch Alliance's launch capabilities. Weather updates and live coverage can be found on FLORIDA TODAY's website.

via Florida Today|
#cape-canaveral#delta-iv-heavy#nrol-70