Padside
Menu

United Launch AllianceVulcan VC2SSpace Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Certification Flight 2

Launched

October 4, 2024 · 11:25 UTC

Launch SuccessfulWeather 95% go

Image: United Launch Alliance

Summary

Certification Flight 2 launched on an United Launch Alliance Vulcan VC2S from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on October 4, 2024 at 11:25 UTC. The launch window ran from 10:00 to 13:00 UTC. It was United Launch Alliance's 164th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 6,772nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 2nd Vulcan VC2S flight. The payload was bound for Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A). It reached a 500 × 505 km orbit inclined 30.0°. One object from this launch is catalogued.

Watch
Vehicle
Vulcan VC2S · United Launch Alliance
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Test Flight · Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A)for ULA
Milestone
2nd Vulcan VC2S flightUnited Launch Alliance's 164th launch5th this yearhumanity's 6,772nd orbital launch attempt183rd orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay
Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Simulate in Flight Club

Orbit: as tracked

30.0°Inclination
500 × 505 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.5 minPeriodfrom mean elements
357.3°Ascending node
741 d agoElement epoch2024-10-04 11:40 UTC · stale

Vulcan CERT-2 Payload · NORAD 61448 · 2024-179 · Space-Track

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
VULCAN CENTAUR R/B
Object ID
2024-179A
Epoch
2024-10-04 11:40:56 UTC
Mean motion
15.23529867 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0004
Inclination
30°
Ascending node
357.3088°
Arg. of perigee
321.8°
Mean anomaly
177.59°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
0
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: Helio-N/A. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Flight timeline

12 steps, T−5 s to T+34 min 55 s
  1. T−4.9SIgnition
  2. T+1.1SLiftoff
  3. T+1M9.9SSupersonic
  4. T+1M16.1SMax-Q
  5. T+1M48.8SSRB Separation
  6. T+4M59.1SMECO
  7. T+5M5.1SStage 2 Separation
  8. T+5M15.1SSES-1
  9. T+5M23.1SFairing Separation
  10. T+15M55.7SSECO-1
  11. T+30M53.6SSES-2
  12. T+34M54.6SSECO-2

Catalogued objects

1 catalogued: 1 payload

  • Vulcan CERT-2 Payload · NORAD 61448 · left Earth orbit October 5, 2024

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Replacement Vulcan test launch with inert payload, experiments, and demonstrations for certification with the USSF after delays caused by payload testing of the Sierra Space Dreamchaser CRS SNC-1 mission, the original planned payload. One of the GEM-63XL SRBs was observed to blown out its booster nozzle at T+37 seconds, causing reduced and asymmetric thrust during ascent, however the performance shortfall was fully compensated by Vulcan's other stages.

Official page: Vulcan Cert-2

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 41

Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

114th launch from Space Launch Complex 41, 4th this year · 977th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Oct 4, 7:25 AM EDT, in daylight

125 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

66 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success

SwGustav · Oct 4, 2024 · source

Show 9 earlier updates

  • Liftoff

    SwGustav · 10/4/2024 · source

  • New T-0

    SwGustav · 10/4/2024 · source

  • HOLD

    hitura-nobad · 10/4/2024 · source

  • New T-0 10:30 UTC

    hitura-nobad · 10/4/2024

  • Weather is 95% GO. Launch on hold.

    hitura-nobad · 10/4/2024 · source

  • Official Webcast by United Launch Alliance has started

    LL2 · 10/4/2024 · source

  • Weather 80% GO

    Nosu · 10/3/2024 · source

  • Weather 75% GO.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 10/1/2024 · source

  • Added launch window.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/17/2024 · source

Questions

When did Certification Flight 2 launch?

Certification Flight 2 launched on October 4, 2024 at 11:25 UTC. The launch window ran from 10:00 to 13:00 UTC.

Where can I watch Certification Flight 2?

Coverage: Oct. 4 LIVE Broadcast: Vulcan Cert-2. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Certification Flight 2?

Vulcan VC2S, flown by United Launch Alliance. Vulcan VC2S spec sheet

Where did Certification Flight 2 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Oct 4, 7:25 AM EDT local time at the pad.

What orbit did Certification Flight 2 reach?

It reached a 500 × 505 km orbit inclined 30.0°.

How many satellites did Certification Flight 2 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).