Via Satellite reports, “The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket is now certified for U.S. national security missions after receiving certification from the U.S. Space Force. Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization announced the certification on Wednesday for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. ULA is now eligible to launch NSSL missions as one of two certified providers, the other being SpaceX.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)
Tag: United Launch Alliance
ULA Awaits Space Force’s Certification of its New Vulcan Rocket
Ars Technica reports, “Last October, United Launch Alliance started stacking its third Vulcan rocket on a mobile launch platform in Florida in preparation for a mission for the US Space Force by the end of the year. That didn’t happen, and ULA is still awaiting the Space Force’s formal certification of its new rocket, further pushing out delivery schedules for numerous military satellites booked to fly to orbit on the Vulcan launcher.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
SpaceX to Use Second Vandenberg Launch Pad for Falcon Rockets
Space News reports SpaceX is adding a second West Coast launch pad after receiving “approval to lease Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, a historic site previously occupied by United Launch Alliance.” Space Force unit Space Launch Delta 30 announced this week that SpaceX will use the location to launch Falcon rockets. SpaceX is expanding its “operations at Vandenberg…following a period of extraordinary growth fueled by commercial launch demand and the deployment of its Starlink internet mega-constellation.”
Full Story (Space News)