The The United Launch Alliance was recently announced is aiming for the inaugural launch in May of its long-awaited Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is set to launch every thing from satellites to human ashes into space.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket has faced years of delays as a result of slower-than-expected development of the powerful engines and timing requirements for the lunar lander’s launch.
In keeping with an updated schedule released by ULA CEO Tory Bruno, the 200-foot rocket will launch on May 4, 2023 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
If the launch is successful, the company plans to eventually replace the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets with the Vulcan Centaur.
The rocket is said to be capable of launching a 60,000-pound payload into low Earth orbit and will in the future be certified to hold highly sensitive satellites for US intelligence agencies.
Here’s a have a look at the cargo that might be on board without a crew.
Lunar lander by Astrobotic Technology
The Peregrine lunar lander will carry science and other payloads to the lunar surface.
Astrobotic Technology has said it would be the first industrial landing mission to a different planetary body.
NASA said The Peregrine 1 mission will study the lunar exosphere, thermal properties, magnetic fields and radiation.
Souvenirs and loads from six countries are expected be on board the ship when it leaves the Vulcan Centaur rocket after reaching its designated orbit.
Prototype broadband satellites for Amazon
Project Kuiper, a broadband program proposed by Amazon, may have two prototype satellites aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Amazon said The goal of the constellation might be to deliver fast, inexpensive web to underserved communities around the world.
When accomplished, the constellation is expected to have greater than 3,200 satellites orbiting the Earth and might be much like SpaceX’s Starlink program.
The world’s largest online retailer has already signed a deal with ULA for an extra 47 Project Kuiper launches.
Dates for future launches of the Vulcan Centaur rocket haven’t been set.
“We couldn’t be more excited to hitch ULA’s first Vulcan Centaur launch. Now we have already secured 38 Kuiper Vulcan launches, and using the same launch vehicle on our prototype mission gives us a probability to practice payload integration, processing and mission management procedures ahead of these full-scale industrial launches,” Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Project Technology, said in a statement. Kuiper.
Human ashes for Celestis
The cremated stays of Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols might be one of greater than 150 capsules aboard the Vulcan Centaur inaugural flight, which is able to launch personal belongings on an limitless journey into space.
Celestis, Inc., a Texas-based company, offers souvenir flights that start at $2,995 and might cost customers $12,995 or more.
Launching cremated stays into space is not a recent mission, but sending them beyond the orbit of the Earth and the Moon has not been completed by a industrial company.
The ashes of the creator of Star Trek and several other other forged members can even be on board the rocket.
The release date of May 4 also marks the celebration of the Star Wars franchise – a fitting day for the stays of Nichols and Star Trek members to embark on their maiden voyage.