The Much Awaited Launch of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur Rocket: What’s On Board?

The United Launch Alliance (ULA), a potential competitor of SpaceX, is planning May for the first launch of its much anticipated Vulcan Centaur rocket.

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The launch will send a private moon lander, some of the Jeff Bezos satellites and the mortal remains of several Star Trek cast and crew.

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An updated timetable would allow the 60 meter tall rocket launch on May 4, 2023, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

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The success of the launch will decide the company's plans to launch the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets.

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“We’re being careful and we’re being thoughtful to make sure we have a successful mission,” said Tory Bruno. “We have plenty of time to do this. We’re going to do this the right way.”

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The rocket is believed to have a payload of 60,000 pounds which can be launched into low-Earth orbit and one day could become a dependable rocket to transport essential security satellites for the USA.

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It will use 2 of the BE-4 engines from Blue Origin owned by Bezos and this might be their first launch.

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The Astrobotic's Peregrine lander will be on board, and the moon lander will carry scientific and other payload to the lunar surface.

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Vulcan will also send 2 of Jeff Bezos’s test satellites into orbit for Amazon's Project Kuiper.

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Also flying on Vulcan will be the cremated remains of Star Trek star, Nichelle Nichols, who played “Lt. Uhura '', along with more than 150 capsules, enabled by Celestis Inc.

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