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    • Live updates from the Cert-2 mission at the Cape
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    Live updates from the Cert-2 mission at the Cape

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    Launch summary: Scroll down to watch live updates from Friday, October 4, the launch of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral for the Cert-2 mission.

    Original reporting: The United Launch Alliance is sending its second Vulcan rocket into space!

    Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live coverage of today’s ULA Vulcan Cert-2 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    After two delays, ULA is now targeting launch of the 202-foot-tall rocket from Launch Complex 41 at 7:25 a.m. EDT. The mission launch window will be extended until 9 a.m. should further problems arise.

    Equipped with two solid rocket boosters, the Vulcan will “carry an inert payload into space while meeting Space Force certification requirements to conduct future national security missions,” according to a ULA blog update.

    No sonic booms expected in Central Florida. The volcano will rise into the sky on an easterly trajectory. And the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron is predicting an 80% chance of weather to occur at the launch, warning of cumulus clouds as the main threat.

    Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA and ULA’s upcoming rocket launch plan from Florida

    Update 7:25 a.m.: ULA just launched its second-ever Vulcan mission from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    Update 7:20 a.m.: The countdown to the start is on. ULA just reported: “The Centaur V upper stage is currently undergoing final configuration for launch while ensuring resupply of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from ground systems to the rocket.”

    Update 7:17 a.m.: After a verbal “readiness survey” of 29 ULA engineers and managers on system status, Vulcan is again rated “ready for launch.”

    Update 7:15 a.m.: According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, sunrise will occur at 7:16 a.m. at Cape Canaveral.

    Update 7:02 a.m.: From a ULA tweet: “The issue has been resolved and launch director Eric Richards has instructed the team to postpone today’s launch to 7:25 a.m. EDT.”

    Update 7 a.m.: During the ULA webcast, Space Launch Delta 45 weather officer Arlena Moses said showers had developed along the Gulf Stream about 20 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral, but she did not expect significant launch weather concerns.

    The 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 95% chance of favorable launch weather.

    Update 6:53 a.m.: In a brief update, ULA said its engineers are investigating the issue that stalled the launch countdown.

    Update 6:37 a.m.: The ULA teams announced that they will repeat the countdown and set a new time for the launch. The start window for this morning is until 9 a.m

    Update 6:29 a.m.: Late announcement from ULA: “Wait. The countdown sequence has paused because a condition has been identified that requires investigation before we can proceed.”

    Update 6:25 a.m.: Five minutes before takeoff. The upper stage of the Centaur V is being finally configured for launch.

    Update 6:21 a.m.: Following a verbal “readiness survey” of 29 ULA engineers and managers on system status, Vulcan is now “ready to launch.”

    Update 6:15 a.m.: ULA reports that takeoff weather remains good and the Vulcan’s fuel tanks are topped off at flight altitude.

    Update 6:04 a.m.: ULA is now aiming for a 6:30 a.m. start

    Update 6:01 a.m.: This morning’s launch window is until 9 a.m. and ULA crews are working on a fuel flow issue.

    “The Vulcan launch vehicle experienced a data failure that caused the ground systems to stop fuel flow to the rocket,” said Andrea Lehnhoff, launch commentator.

    “The team has configured the systems to resume flow and we are working to set up a new T-0 shortly,” Lehnhoff said.

    Update 5:49 a.m.: ULA just announced a launch delay.

    “Launch Director Dillon Rice has informed Launch Director Eric Richards that the launch team will need a few additional minutes to complete preparations. Therefore, we will not resume the startup countdown when opening the window. A new target start time has not yet been set,” it said in a blog post.

    Update 5:45 a.m.: Fifteen minutes before takeoff, the ULA reports: “The weather remains favorable for us; no technical issues with the launch vehicle or launch pad systems are being addressed and we are on track for a full hour launch.”

    Update 5:40 a.m.: ULA’s live launch webcast has begun and will be posted above next to our countdown clock.

    Update 5:35 a.m.: ULA just announced that weather is expected to start in 25 minutes, according to the final scheduled briefing of the countdown by weather officer Brian Belson.

    The National Weather Service reported some clouds at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as of 4:55 a.m. with a temperature of 77 degrees, humidity of 86%, an east wind of 3 mph and visibility of 10 miles.

    Update 5:25 a.m.: This ULA “Factory to Launch” video shows how today’s Vulcan was created, piece by piece.

    Update 5:15 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch support team ahead of ULA’s upcoming Vulcan launch.

    The start is planned in 45 minutes.

    Update 5:08 a.m.: The latest from ULA: “#VulcanRocket is fully upgraded for today’s #Cert2 mission to meet their certification requirements. Clocks are at T-minus 7 minutes for final readiness surveys before we begin terminal counting.”

    Update 5am: ULA released this “visibility graphic” showing when the Vulcan rocket will become visible to viewers after launch.

    Update 4:50 a.m.: This national weather radar loop shows persistent rainfall and thunderstorms continuing south of the Space Coast, in Indian River County and near Fort Pierce.

    In an update at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, the NWS Melbourne office warned of flooded roads from repeated torrential rains along the Treasure Coast – with more than 15cm of rain possibly falling in some places.

    Update 4:33 a.m.: A ULA blog post just detailed the storied history of Centaur High School. Today’s version is 38½ feet long and features two Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engines manufactured in West Palm Beach.

    “The first operational payloads launched by Centaur were Surveyor missions in which landers touched the lunar surface,” says a ULA blog post.

    “Mariner missions went to Mars, Venus and Mercury, Pioneer 10 flew past Jupiter and Pioneer 11 visited both Jupiter and Saturn, Vikings 1 and 2 launched to Mars, Voyager 1 and 2 explored the gas giants in our outer solar system, Cassini orbited Saturn, New Horizons flew past Pluto, and more recently, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Curiosity Rover, MAVEN Orbiter, InSight Lander, and Mars 2020 Rover left Earth for the Red Planet thanks to Centaur,” the post reads .

    More: ULA and Aerojet Rocketdyne celebrate 60 years of partnership and prepare for launch of Vulcan Centaur

    Update 4:16 a.m.: National Weather Service radar shows clear skies over Cape Canaveral. Additional details from the 45th Weather Squadron launch forecast:

    “A large area of ​​high pressure is expected to move slowly across the East Coast through Saturday, bringing onshore winds and rapid, light coastal shower activity to the spaceport on Friday and Saturday morning,” the squadron’s forecast said.

    “Although some storms developing inland may move close to the Cape in the early hours of the morning, they are unlikely to cause concern as the launch window opens,” the forecast said.

    Vulcan crews replenish tanks

    Update 4:02 a.m.: ULA officials just reported that crews have reached the refueling phase, where the tanks will be refilled, bringing the rocket’s total weight to 1.5 million pounds.

    “Feels like a good day to go to space”

    Update 3:50 a.m.: Liquid oxygen fueling operations for Vulcan’s first stage and Centaur V’s upper stage are nearly complete and ULA crews are reporting no significant problems. The countdown continues.

    “The refueling process is in full swing. The weather still looks good. Feels like a good day to go to space,” ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno said in a tweet at 3:03 a.m.

    For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

    Rick Neale is a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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