ULA Postpones the Debut Launch of Vulcan Centaur to 2023

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) postponed the Vulcan Centaur rocket's first launch until early 2023. By then, though, it will be carrying a significant new payload - the first two prototype satellites of Amazon's envisioned space-based internet constellation, known as Project Kuiper.

The majority of divisions are falling behind schedule

ULA initially intended to launch the new heavy-lift class rocket from its launch facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida this year before rescheduling. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, ULA released a statement outlining the revised schedule. It said that it was essential since neither the launch vehicle nor the payload would be ready to fly by the end of the year. Furthermore, the reason for the postponement of the launch date is due to a request by Astrobotic, the company that will deploy the Peregrine lunar lander to the Moon as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.  Moreover, the company's production of Vulcan rockets is also falling behind schedule. A report revealed that the company won't be able to ship a flight-ready version to Florida for another month. On another note, Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin provided the rocket's BE-4 engines. But, the rocket is still at ULA's facility in Decatur, Alabama, waiting for installation.

The Vulcan Centaur Rocket Will Now Include Amazon

Amazon intended to launch its prototype KuiperSat-1 and 2 satellites early in the following year after reaching a multi-launch agreement with ABL Space Systems in November 2021. However, the RS1 rocket is still in the prototype stage. Thus, the new launch company won't be able to launch the satellites on schedule. Additionally, Amazon plans to build more than 3,000 satellites that can deliver space-based internet connectivity to users in unserved and underserved areas of the world when the first two prototypes are finished by the end of the year. Furthermore, Amazon switched its attention to ULA to launch the initial prototypes of its internet-beaming satellites, even if the corporation still intends to continue with two launches with ABL Space Systems in accordance with the conditions of the original launch deal. According to the report, having a choice of rockets at their disposal helped them accomplish the program's objectives more successfully while also reducing the dangers connected with launch vehicle stand-downs.

A brief on the Kuiper Project

Several launch service providers, including ABL Space Systems, ULA, Blue Origin, and the French firm Arianespace, have contracts with Amazon. In a statement made public on Wednesday, Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology for Amazon's Project Kuiper, expressed his company's joy in taking part in the Vulcan Centaur's first launch. He stated, "We couldn't be more delighted to join the inaugural launch of ULA's Vulcan Centaur." Also, Read- Why Is SpaceX Launching So Many Satellites Badyal continued, "We've already secured 38 Kuiper launches on Vulcan, and using the same launch vehicle for our prototype mission gives us a chance to practice payload integration, processing, and mission management procedures ahead of those full-scale commercial launches."