{"id":10234,"date":"2023-12-10T22:55:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T14:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/ulas-first-mission-with-its-vulcan-rocket-slides-to-january-launch-window\/"},"modified":"2023-12-10T22:55:24","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T14:55:24","slug":"ulas-first-mission-with-its-vulcan-rocket-slides-to-january-launch-window","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/ulas-first-mission-with-its-vulcan-rocket-slides-to-january-launch-window\/","title":{"rendered":"ULA\u2019s first mission with its Vulcan rocket slides to January launch window"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
ULA\u2019s Vulcan rocket sits at the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) ahead of the start of a wet dress rehearsal tanking test on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. Image: ULA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Update: Added additional context from social media posts from Tory Bruno confirming that the launch will move to January.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The debut of United Launch Alliance\u2019s Vulcan rocket will slip from late December into early January, according to the company\u2019s president and CEO, Tory Bruno. In a social media post on Sunday, Bruno said the planned Dec. 24 launch date is off the table.<\/p>\n

After initially stating that the Christmas Eve launch opportunity was \u201clikely out\u201d on Dec. 10, Bruno later added further context, stating that a launch in 2023 wasn\u2019t really viable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe payload is encapsulated, but it will still have to be integrated, followed, testing and vehicle close outs,\u201d Bruno stated on X. \u201cThis pushes us past the December window.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statements come a couple days after the rocket conducted an initial Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), where the vehicle was fully fueled and went the countdown was to proceed to the final seconds before cutting off. But Bruno said a \u201ccouple of routine ground issues came up near the end\u201d of the test.<\/p>\n

Ground teams were targeting a T-0 of 4:30 p.m. EST on Friday. Based on observations of venting during the operation it appeared the countdown reached its final four minutes before an abort occurred. The Vulcan vehicle left the launch pad and returned to the Vertical Integration Facility building at launch complex 41 Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like a full WDR before our first flight, so [Christmas] Eve is likely out,\u201d Bruno said in a Dec. 10 post on X. He added that they are working on schedules but Spaceflight Now understands another test has been scheduled for as soon as Tuesday.<\/p>\n