U.S. Joint Launch Alliance (ULA) announced on October 12 that the first launch of the new rocket "Vulcan" is scheduled to be held in the first quarter of 2023. It is revealed that the launch will also carry two communication satellite prototypes ( test machine ), forming the satellite constellation " Kuiper (Kuiper)" planned by the Amazon . The Vulcan that ULA will develop is a subsequent development of the "Atlas V" rocket currently used. The first stage of Vulcan uses the "BE-4" engine of Blue Origin , but due to the delay in development and testing, Vulcan's first launch was repeatedly delayed.
Currently, Vulcan's factory in ULA in Decatur, Alabama, USA is about to be completed and is currently waiting for the engine to be installed. According to ULA, the body is expected to be shipped to the upcoming Cape Canaveral, Florida, around November 2022.
Vulcan's first launch will be equipped with the "Kuipersat-1" and "Kuipersat-2" testers of the Kuipers4 satellite, as well as the "Pellegrin" lunar spacecraft of the American private company Astrobotic. Pellegrin was launched under the guidance of NASA's Commercial Moon Transport Payload Service Mission (CLIPS) and is scheduled to land on the moon's surface.
Amazon's " Kuiper " constellation is an satellite constellation project, consisting of a total of 3,236 small satellites. The company has contracted ULA, Alliance Space and Blue Origin to ensure they have the 92 launch opportunities needed to build a satellite constellation. Of the 47 Kuiper launches at ULA, 38 are planned to be launched by Vulcan. Therefore, the development and use of Vulcan will affect the construction of satellite constellations in Amazon.
In addition, Amazon has signed a contract to launch two test aircrafts using ABL Space Systems, a new rocket "RS1", a private aerospace company, but the contract stated that it will be retained. At present, there have been delays in the development and first launch of the RS1 rocket.
It is worth noting that Vulcan's first launch mission will also affect the launch of satellites related to safety. In the United States, any military or security-related satellite launch is carried out within the framework of the National Security Space Launch program (NSSL). Vulcan is to be used in NSSL and requires two commercial launches to be successful. ULA suggests that if the launch is on a schedule, it is possible for Vulcan to launch through the NSSL program for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2023.
