United Launch Alliance schedules Vulcan return to flight for November 13

United Launch Alliance plans to return its Vulcan rocket to service on Friday, November 13, targeting a mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch will deliver 40 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into orbit, pending range approval. The mission is Amazon's first using Vulcan under a contract for 38 launches to build out its satellite constellation, following eight previous deployments using Atlas V rockets. [1][2]

Vulcan was grounded after a solid rocket booster nozzle failure occurred during its fourth flight earlier this year, marking the second nozzle mishap across the rocket's initial four missions. The rocket will rely on two BE-4 main engines, a Centaur V upper stage with two RL10C-1 engines, and six Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL boosters. ULA stated that it addressed potential causes of the previous anomaly with design and process improvements to the nozzle, which will debut on this flight alongside ongoing testing. [1][2]

The upcoming flight represents a vital test for ULA and its primary clients, Amazon and the US Space Force. Although payloads on the prior flights reached orbit despite the nozzle failures, Ars Technica reports that Space Force officials lost confidence in the rocket. [1][2]