On this date in 2024, United Launch Alliance's next-generation Vulcan rocket flew its first certification mission at 2:18 a.m. from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
"It was so exciting. I ran outside so I could watch this thing lift off. And that was so cool, after so many years of development, to watch this thing fly," Eric Monda, who works on ULA's mission ...
ULA's Vulcan rocket, powered by engines from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, made its first two launches this year and is designed primarily to meet the demands of Pentagon missions into various orbits.
The rocket will launch the USSF-106 mission for the U.S. Space Force, Vulcan's first national security flight. Credit: United Launch Alliance Join our newsletter to get the latest military space ...