ULA's New Rocket - Vulcan Centaur

[Grendal]

I couldn't find a thread specifically about ULA's Vulcan which replaces the Atlas V. I think we've just commented about it on the SpaceX versus Everyone thread. The rocket deserves its own thread. We've been taking shots at BO on a few different threads. The reality is that Vulcan will be using the BO BE-4 engine for the Vulcan. It has become a huge headache for ULA with its numerous delays. It is quickly becoming a very serious problem for ULA. The Angry Astronaut gives one of angry rants about it going over the details and implications:

 

[ecarfan]

Centaur second stage testing results in an “anomaly”. No details provided.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641270272987676672

 

[HVM]

Locals have heard boom near Marshall Space Flight Center at that time, similar to the destructive SLS test.

ULA Vulcan Launch Vehicle (as announced/built) - General Discussion Thread 3

ULA Vulcan Launch Vehicle (as announced/built) - General Discussion Thread 3

forum.nasaspaceflight.com

 

[ecarfan]

Locals have heard boom near Marshall Space Flight Center at that time, similar to the destructive SLS test.

Interesting. Bruno’s tweet implies that it was not a deliberate “test to destruction”, as he states there was a hardware “anomaly” during a qualification test. So based on reports by locals, the anomaly was some sort of explosion, i.e. a catastrophic failure of the test article.

 

[HVM]

"A column of burning, clear hydrogen shot up into a mushroom cloud that dwarfed the test stand," one source said. "Their test article is definitely more than just 'damaged.'"

New photo reveals extent of Centaur V anomaly explosion [Updated]

"A column of burning, clear hydrogen shot up into a mushroom cloud."

arstechnica.com

 

[mongo]

"A column of burning, clear hydrogen shot up into a mushroom cloud that dwarfed the test stand," one source said. "Their test article is definitely more than just 'damaged.'"

New photo reveals extent of Centaur V anomaly explosion [Updated]

"A column of burning, clear hydrogen shot up into a mushroom cloud."

arstechnica.com

Just because it was damaged enough to vent, doesn't mean the resulting fire damaged it more.

 

[HVM]

Does this look like that hydrogen only reacted with atmospheric oxygen or did they have lox tanks there too?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644507446516301826

 

[HVM]

Ok, here's the answer:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644463973981626369

We require the correct metallurgical conditions for this type of test. So, we use LH2 (around -423F). For the LOX (around -297F), we substitute LN2 (around -320F); close enough and much safer.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Reports says that Blue Origin is in the middle of refurbishing a nearby launch pad and thus had video cameras running. That picture above may have come from it. ULA reportedly asked BO to delete the video they had and BO complied (But not before that still got out apparently).

 

[mongo]

Reports says that Blue Origin is in the middle of refurbishing a nearby launch pad and thus had video cameras running. That picture above may have come from it. ULA reportedly asked BO to delete the video they had and BO complied (But not before that still got out apparently).

Tory says they requested for BO "secure" the video and send it to NASA, not delete it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644458078820274176

also

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644519045973315585

 

[Grendal]

Centaur has had very few anomalies. It's been a workhorse for decades. It's just good it happened in the testing phase.

Centaur (rocket stage) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[HVM]

Yes, but V is bigger than III or common.

 

[HVM]

Here video of the Centaur V test, and explanation of events:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1646572389193625600

 

[ecarfan]

Scott Manley’s analysis of the Centaur test article anomaly. He thinks it likely that the incident will only delay the Vulcan launch by a matter of weeks, not many months.

 

[Grendal]

 

[scaesare]

I like the trend of streaming tests/development articles. Maybe BO will get more fully on board.

 

[Grendal]

An article about the upcoming testing:

ULA prepares for new round of Vulcan tests

ULA prepares for new round of Vulcan tests

spacenews.com

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1658086713007144963

Tory confirms the FTT for Vulcan has been completed and heading into the FRF (firing up the BE-4s) "in a few days or so." Overview: https://nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/vulcan-dress-rehearsal/

 

[Grendal]

ULA preparing for Vulcan Centaur static fire

ULA expects to conduct a static-fire test of its Vulcan Centaur rocket in several days, but the timing of the vehicle’s first launch remains uncertain.

spacenews.com

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659181267236057090

United Launch Alliance says engineers have identified a leak on a test article for the Vulcan rocket's Centaur upper stage -- not a problem with the test stand -- as the cause for an explosive mishap during a March structural test in Alabama.

(This is old news if you read Grendal's linked article above.)