United Launch Alliance, based in El Segundo, successfully launched a new rocket carrying a lunar lander Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The company’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket made its maiden flight, earning praise from the Space System Command.
“This is a groundbreaking day, culminating years of technical collaboration and partnership to field a new launch system for the United States. Congratulations to United Launch Alliance on a successful first Vulcan Centaur launch. A strong, competitive launch market, servicing both government and commercial customers, supports continued innovation and our assured access to space,” Brig. Gen. Kristin L. Panzenhagen, SSC’s program executive officer for Assured Access To Space, and commander of the 45th Space Launch Delta, said in a statement.
“Today’s launch marks a new space launch capability that will complete the Department of Defense’s transition from foreign engines and ensure the Joint Force’s ability to achieve space superiority when necessary while also maintaining the safety, security, stability, and long-term sustainability of the space domain,” Panzenhagen said.
In addition to Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, ULA’s Vulcan Centaur carried the Enterprise Flight, a Celestis Memorial Spaceflight mission into a stable solar orbit “on an endless journey through interplanetary space.”