On January 8, 2024, United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the first Vulcan rocket flight from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The flight is carrying NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) and crucial components for the Artemis program including an Astrobotic robotic lander to the Moon’s surface.
The launch of this loaded first commercial launch for Vulcan liftoff as planned and completed its key milestones.
ULA Vulcan Centaur Mission
Following the main engine, Vulcan has reached a preliminary Earth orbit to achieve a trans-lunar injection orbit.
The first main engine cutoff, or MECO-1, is confirmed for the Centaur V upper stage. #VulcanRocket has reached a preliminary Earth orbit where it will coast above the globe for 28 minutes before the burn to achieve a trans-lunar injection orbit begins. https://t.co/xFQoT0042V pic.twitter.com/bTm4M9BEuv
— ULA (@ulalaunch) January 8, 2024
According to the information, the Astrobotic lunar lander will dive into a highly elliptical orbit of 220,000 miles (360,000 km) above Earth to intercept the Moon.
The payloads include LTES (Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer), NIRVSS (Near-Inrared Volatile Spectrometer System), NSS (Neutron Spectrometer System), PITMS (Peregrine Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer and LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array).
Below you can check the first liftoff to ULA’s Vulcan rocket.
LIFTOFF of the first United Launch Alliance #VulcanRocket! pic.twitter.com/wZMlPxWr4l
— ULA (@ulalaunch) January 8, 2024