The 200-foot Vulcan Centaur rocket can do more than launch satellites into orbit. While the rocket awaits certification to launch military payloads, United Launch Alliance (ULA) suggests that Vulcan could be used to ward off adversaries in space and protect U.S. assets in orbit.
During the Spacepower Conference held earlier this month, ULA CEO Tory Bruno reveal that he has alternative plans for heavy-lift spacecraft SpaceNews Reported– Bruno's suggestion included using the rockets on the upper floors as “Space Interceptor” to thwart attacks on US Space Force assets in space “Our vision is the ability to have a platform that is lightning fast, long range and, if necessary, lethal,” he said during the conference. “What I'm working on is a rocket that works in space.”
That's certainly the idea. The 61.6 meter tall Vulcan Centaur is a disposable heavy launch vehicle. First launched in 2006, the rocket borrowed design elements from ULA's Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, and finally launched on January 8, 2006. launch Astrobotic's Peregrine lands on the moon The first flight of a rocket was originally set It was to be held in 2019, but Vulcan faced several challenges and obstacles that delayed the big day.
Vulcan Centaur is vital to the commercial space industry as well as U.S. national security. With its Vulcan rocket, ULA hopes to compete with industry favorite SpaceX. The US military has grown. depends more on SpaceX to launch payloads into orbit This is a market share previously dominated by ULA.
However, Vulcan is not yet ready to launch military payloads. The rocket made its second move. certified flight in October But ULA's canopy vehicle ran into a snag after a minor launch. Experienced The problem occurred about 35 seconds after launch, when a number of objects suddenly ejected from one of its two actuators.
The primary objective of the Cert-2 mission is to provide space for the US Space Force. certify Vulcan for national security missions The rocket is scheduled to carry US military supplies. Two programs hit orbit this year. Such less-than-ideal flights delayed the rocket certification process.
Bruno's latest suggestion of turning rockets into space superheroes may be a desperate move, as ULA continues to lag behind its main competitor, SpaceX. During the conference, ULA's CEO suggested that Vulcan's upper echelon It can be upgraded for use as a long-endurance vehicle that operates in space and responds quickly to incoming threats.
“We know the Chinese are going to come after us in space,” Bruno said, according to SpaceNews. “If we watch an attack develop, Where Chinese assets take a few days or a week to reach our interests. Well, we have something that we can move there in a matter of hours. and deter that attack before it begins.”
Citing China's growing capabilities in space is one way to get people behind your plans. Still, Bruno's words reflect larger concerns shared between Both national and commercial space players, that is, space is headed towards a military future. that war in orbit may be inevitable