ULA Prepares for Second Vulcan Centaur Rocket Launch

The upcoming Cert-2 mission aims to advance rocket certification for U.S. Space Force national security missions.

United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket is set for its second test flight from Cape Canaveral on October 4, with a launch window starting at 6 a.m. EDT.
The Cert-2 mission will carry a mass simulator instead of the originally planned Dream Chaser spaceplane, which wasn't ready for launch.
Successful completion of Cert-2 is crucial for the U.S. Space Force to certify the Vulcan Centaur for national security missions, with data review expected to take several weeks.
ULA is planning up to 20 launches in 2025, including flights for Amazon's Project Kuiper and the Dream Chaser's first orbital mission.
The mission will also test new technologies for the Centaur upper stage, aiming to extend its operational lifetime in space.