Latest news with #ToryBruno
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What to know: ULA Vulcan rocket to launch national security mission from Cape Canaveral
It's been awhile since Florida has seen a Vulcan rocket launch, but United Launch Alliance is pushing ahead to break that drought. While an official launch date is yet to come, ULA has announced the upcoming USSF-106 mission for the Space Force. The company has also teased photos of the red and white Vulcan rocket in the process of being stacked for launch. The long awaited liftoff will be from Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. As it is a national security mission, the payload remains undisclosed. When did a Vulcan last launch? How long has it been since we've seen this rocket? The last Vulcan launch was the Space Force certification flight in October 2024. Now that the new rocket has been cleared to fly national security payloads, the Space Coast awaits a launch date for this rocket's third flight. "From its inception, the Vulcan rocket was designed to deliver heavy payloads to any orbit. The upcoming USSF-106 mission utilizes this capability with Centaur V launching a multi-manifest U.S. national security payload directly to geosynchronous orbit for the Space Force," United Launch Alliance posted to its website July 15. The Centaur V is the Vulcan's upper stage, which is designed to reach unusual orbits for these national security missions. "The basic architecture of the rocket is really focused on these unique orbits," ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters in March. "An example would be directly injecting into geosynchronous orbit − a mission really the government does." A geosynchronous orbit is one which orbits alongside Earth's 24-hour rotation, with the spacecraft staying above the same longitude. The first time a Vulcan launched was in January 2024. What is the Vulcan replacing? While ULA still launches its Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, the Vulcan is designed to replace both Atlas V and the now retired Delta IV. It will become ULA's main workhorse rocket. On top of missions for the Space Force, Vulcan will also fly payloads such as Amazon's Kuiper internet satellites. The long awaited Dream Chaser space plane is also on the manifest, but no launch day yet. Vulcan is designed to fly with two, four, or six solid rocket boosters, or none at all. ULA says to look for four solid rocket boosters propelling this upcoming mission off the launch pad. What happened during the ULA Vulcan rocket launch in Florida last fall? During Vulcan's last launch in October 2024, sparks were seen by spectators approximately 38 seconds into the flight. It was later revealed that an issue within one of the solid rocket boosters caused the light show. The issue did not impact the mission, with the payload reaching orbit. The incident was investigated by ULA to understand the root cause. In March 2025, the Vulcan rocket received certification from the U.S. Space Force to fly national security missions. When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest from Cape Canaveral. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What to know: ULA Vulcan rocket to launch mission from Cape Canaveral Solve the daily Crossword
Digital Trends
25-06-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
Enjoy these awesome views of ULA's latest liftoff
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Amazon recently launched a second batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites to low-Earth orbit, and ULA boss Tory Bruno has just shared some awesome close-ups of the company's workhorse Atlas V rocket leaving the launchpad. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Monday, with cameras placed close to the launchpad capturing the moment the Atlas V blasted skyward: This one includes the gorgeous backdrop of a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean: Best capture of the @ulalaunch Rocket, Atlas V 551 Rocket powers to deliver project kuiper satellites for Amazon.@torybruno always doing the most amazing job 👏. ULA launch has the best scientists in America. — Robinson M רו🚀🦿🦸 (@RobinsonMuiru) June 24, 2025 'Bird's eye view of Kuiper 02 looking down from one of the lightning towers,' Bruno wrote in another video post shared on Tuesday: Bird's eye view of Kuiper 02 looking down from one of the lightning towers. (Turn up the volume) #Kuiper — Tory Bruno (@torybruno) June 24, 2025 And, finally, here's some slow-motion footage of the Atlas V leaving the launchpad: The Atlas V, which at 58.3 meters tall is about 11 meters shorter than SpaceX's Falcon 9, first launched in 2002 and has conducted more than 85 orbital flights over the decades. Recommended Videos The rocket is noted for its impressive versatility, offering a wide range of configurations that allow mission planners to tailor the rocket's payload fairing size, number of solid rocket boosters (from zero to five), and upper-stage engine count to precisely match the requirements of each space mission. ULA's Atlas V rocket will fly six more times for Project Kuiper before the company retires the vehicle and switches to its next-generation and more powerful Vulcan Centaur rocket for more launches. ULA is set to deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation's 3,200 satellites during the next few years as Amazon builds out its Starlink-like internet-from-space service. The broadband system will combine satellites, customer terminals, ground stations, and Amazon Web Services infrastructure for high-speed, low-latency connectivity, with a particular focus on unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon is aiming to launch a limited service before the end of this year as its satellite constellation begins to expand.
Miami Herald
23-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
ULA manages 2nd launch of year hours after SpaceX's 50th
United Launch Alliance took a week to reset, but was able to send up its second launch of the year, another mission for Amazon's effort to compete with SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation. The launch came just hours after SpaceX sent up its 50th rocket from the Space Coast this year. An Atlas V rocket on the Kuiper-2 mission with 27 internet satellites lifted off at 6:54 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41. 'Hot, straight, and normal,' said ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno moments after launch on X. The launch came one week since ULA scrubbed because of bad temperature readings on the rocket related to a gaseous nitrogen purge line. SpaceX earlier Monday morning launched its 50th mission from the Space Coast, and 76th overall this year including California flights. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Canaveral's nearby Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:58 a.m. with 27 Starlink satellites. The first-stage booster flew for the 25th time landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. SpaceX has now launched more than 9,000 Starlink satellites since 2019. The Space Coast has now seen 53 orbital launches for the year, with SpaceX flying all but three. Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket for the first time in January while ULA has now managed two missions. The Atlas V was one of only 14 left in ULA's stable, seven of which are set aside for Amazon as the company looks to get more than 3,200 of its Project Kuiper satellites into orbit by 2028. ULA's first launch of the year in April was also for Amazon sending up the constellation's first 27 operational satellites. The company also purchased an additional 38 launches on ULA's new Vulcan rocket as well as missions on Blue Origin, Arianespace and even SpaceX. In total, Amazon has lined up more than 80 flights as it tries to play catchup to SpaceX, which has launched close to 9,000 of its Starlink satellites since 2019. While the satellites are manufactured in Washington, Amazon has built a $120 million satellite processing facility at a nearly 80-acre site at the Kennedy Space Center's former Shuttle Landing Facility where they will get the final preparations for launch such as fueling. For now, ULA is the only company proliferating the constellation, and Vulcan has the lion's share of contracted missions. ULA has only flown its Vulcan rocket twice so far, both in 2024, but is expecting to fly it a third time as early as July on a national security mission for the Space Force. ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno said that after that mission, Vulcan would fly its first Project Kuiper flight, one during which Vulcan would have six solid rocket boosters in its most powerful configuration. After that, Amazon missions will jump back and forth between Vulcan and remaining six contracted Atlas V rockets. Vulcan rockets have a larger capacity than Atlas V and would be able to carry 45 Project Kuiper satellites per launch. Amazon has a goal of getting more than half of the planned constellation into orbit before July 2026 as part of requirements put forth by its Federal Communications Commission license. To increase launch cadence, ULA has been building out a second vertical integration facility in Cape Canaveral so it can prepare two rockets for launch at the same time. Its goal is to ramp up to at least two launches per month on the Space Coast. It also has launch capability from California. ULA had only five launches total in 2024 including the final Delta IV Heavy launch from Space Launch Complex 37. SpaceX under the direction of the Space Force demolished the launch tower at SLC-37 last week in preparation to build out new launch facilities to support its in-development Starship and Super Heavy rockets. While SpaceX will continue launches from SLC-40 and Kennedy Space Center, ULA will focus its Space Coast operations entirely from SLC-41. ULA still has seven other Atlas V rockets set aside for other customers. One is for communications company ViaSat and six are assigned to Boeing Starliner launches, so the final flight for Atlas V may not come until as late as 2030. ULA has a backlog of more than 70 missions including 24 for national security. Its Vulcan rocket was only certified for those launches this spring after years of the delays in the rocket's development. Bruno has said ULA would like to ramp up to at least 24 launches per year by the end of 2026. The company formed as a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006 and had been the primary launch provider for national security missions until SpaceX joined the competition. The most missions the company has flown in a single year has been 16 in 2009. -------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Watch Live: ULA tries for 2nd launch of year on mission for Amazon
United Launch Alliance took a week to reset, but will try again to send up its second launch of the year, another mission for Amazon's effort to compete with SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation. An Atlas V rocket on the Kuiper-2 mission with 27 internet satellites is targeting a 6:54 a.m. liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 during a 30-minute window. The launch attempt comes one week since ULA scrubbed because of bad temperature readings on the rocket related to a gaseous nitrogen purge line. 'Sorted the issue,' said ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno calling it an unintentional wet dress rehearsal. While ULA is only making its second launch of the year, SpaceX earlier Monday morning launched its 50th mission from the Space Coast. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Canaveral's nearby Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:58 a.m. with 27 Starlink satellites. The first-stage booster flew for the 25th time landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. SpaceX has now launched more than 9,000 Starlink satellites since 2019. For ULA, the Atlas V is one of only 14 left in ULA's stable, seven of which are set aside for Amazon as the company looks to get more than 3,200 of its Project Kuiper satellites into orbit by 2028. ULA's first launch of the year in April was also for Amazon sending up the constellation's first 27 operational satellites. The company also purchased an additional 38 launches on ULA's new Vulcan rocket as well as missions on Blue Origin, Arianespace and even SpaceX. In total, Amazon has lined up more than 80 flights as it tries to play catchup to SpaceX, which has launched close to 9,000 of its Starlink satellites since 2019. While the satellites are manufactured in Washington, Amazon has built a $120 million satellite processing facility at a nearly 80-acre site at the Kennedy Space Center's former Shuttle Landing Facility where they will get the final preparations for launch such as fueling. For now, ULA is the only company proliferating the constellation, and Vulcan has the lion's share of contracted missions. ULA has only flown its Vulcan rocket twice so far, both in 2024, but is expecting to fly it a third time as early as July on a national security mission for the Space Force. ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno said that after that mission, Vulcan would fly its first Project Kuiper flight, one during which Vulcan would have six solid rocket boosters in its most powerful configuration. After that, Amazon missions will jump back and forth between Vulcan and remaining six contracted Atlas V rockets. Vulcan rockets have a larger capacity than Atlas V and would be able to carry 45 Project Kuiper satellites per launch. Amazon has a goal of getting more than half of the planned constellation into orbit before July 2026 as part of requirements put forth by its Federal Communications Commission license. To increase launch cadence, ULA has been building out a second vertical integration facility in Cape Canaveral so it can prepare two rockets for launch at the same time. Its goal is to ramp up to at least two launches per month on the Space Coast. It also has launch capability from California. ULA had only five launches total in 2024 including the final Delta IV Heavy launch from Space Launch Complex 37. SpaceX under the direction of the Space Force demolished the launch tower at SLC-37 last week in preparation to build out new launch facilities to support its in-development Starship and Super Heavy rockets. While SpaceX will continue launches from SLC-40 and Kennedy Space Center, ULA will focus its Space Coast operations entirely from SLC-41. ULA still has seven other Atlas V rockets set aside for other customers. One is for communications company ViaSat and six are assigned to Boeing Starliner launches, so the final flight for Atlas V may not come until as late as 2030. ULA has a backlog of more than 70 missions including 24 for national security. Its Vulcan rocket was only certified for those launches this spring after years of the delays in the rocket's development. Bruno has said ULA would like to ramp up to at least 24 launches per year by the end of 2026. The company formed as a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006 and had been the primary launch provider for national security missions until SpaceX joined the competition. The most missions the company has flown in a single year has been 16 in 2009.
Digital Trends
23-06-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Watch this Atlas rocket zip to the launchpad for Amazon's Kuiper launch
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has started the countdown clock for the deployment of Amazon's second batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites. The rocket operator released a time-lapse video on Sunday showing the Atlas V rocket moving from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral in Florida. ULA chief Tory Bruno noted that while the rocket appears to hurtle to its destination, the vehicle carrying it is actually moving at a mere 3 mph. Mighty Atlas out for a stroll and back on the pad. Ps this is a time-lapse. IRL, the 2.5M pound Mobile Launch Platform travels at a blistering 3 mph or so. — Tory Bruno (@ 2025-06-21T18:39:04.920Z The mission was supposed to get away last week but technical issues and weather concerns caused the launch date to shift to Monday. Recommended Videos When the Atlas V heads skyward at 6:54 a.m. ET on Monday morning, it'll deploy 27 Project Kuiper satellites to a low-Earth orbit, joining the 27 satellites launched by the same rocket in April. Similar to SpaceX's Starlink service, Amazon's Project Kuiper is designed to bring fast, reliable internet to customers and communities around the world, with a particular focus on unserved and underserved communities. But having started its satellite deployment in 2019, and now with a constellation of more than 7,000 serving more than 5 million customers globally, Starlink is currently some distance ahead of Project Kuiper. Amazon is aiming for a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites, which it aims to have in place by the end of this decade. Before then, possibly before the end of this year, Amazon hopes to be able to start offering a high-speed, low-latency internet service with just 1,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit. Expanding the constellation to the planned 3,200 satellites will enhance network performance and reliability for customers. The e-commerce giant and cloud services powerhouse is investing more than $10 billion in Project Kuiper, which is expected to significantly expand global internet access. If you're interested in watching the launch as it happens, here's everything you need to know.
