Ryan CatondpoddolphinproPresident & CEO of @ULAlaunch, @ToryBruno, just hosted a teleconference ahead of Vulcan's first USSF mission - here's some interesting details, including: Private Spaceports, SMART Reuse, and Starship at KSC:Starship at KSC“Starship is an interesting vehicle. It’s not just another rocket on the range. It is of an unprecedented size”, Bruno said. The request for the licence is a very high launch rate. ULA is counting on the @SpaceForceDoD and the @FAAnewso do a thorough analysis - not only on the ecological environment, but also the launch environment.There are certain operations you can’t do on a pad when another vehicle is fuelled, due to the "energetics associated with that". The analysis has to ensure that “The capacity of our nation is greater, and not smaller”.SMART ReuseThe component critical design review is complete on SMART reuse. This allows ULA to build flight-like hardware for certification. As time goes forward, ULA will move more components into the aft of the booster for recovery. By the time that path is finished, pretty much the only thing being discarded from the booster will be the fuel tanks.Bruno expects to start flying SMART reuse experiments in maybe 2026, certainly 2027, but only where it fits neatly into customers' needs. This technology adds weight to the vehicle, so they also want to be improving the performance of the vehicle in parallel. That work is also going on. ULA may do the performance improvements first, for timing, but they need to go together.ULA is exploring more reuse in the future. “Recovering the aft of the booster is not the end of the journey for us”. There could be an increased launch cadence with exploring more reuse with Vulcan. Bruno do not elaborate any further on this.Private Spaceport“We always study literally everything”. In the near term, the right place to be is the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base.ULA is encouraging the government to provide the commercial launch providers with as much insight as possible into the demands placed on the range that affects open launch windows. Making sure there is reliable infrastructure that can keep up with everyone's launch rate is the near-term solution.To move Vulcan to an entirely new launch site would take several years, and ULA isn’t seeing a drive for that just yet. Bruno says that they are keeping track of what they might do if they were to do that. Wallops has a lot of infrastructure already. It is attractive because of the available launch inclinations.BE-4@BlueOrigin was pacing ULA in their ability to develop, and then ramp up and build engines. The engine is now performing "beautifully". Blue is keeping up with their needs. “Don’t tell Dave Limp but they might be an engine or two ahead *chuckle*”.An increase in performance will help New Glenn, but it will also of course help Vulcan.DreamchaserBruno is pretty excited about @SierraSpaceCo's Dreamchaser. "Really cool vehicle". Sierra has not announced their date, as Bruno will “let them do that”. There are arrangements to fly as many as 6 total. “We’ll fit them in”.Launch CadenceGoing into 2026, ULA expects to be flying twice a month or so, across Atlas & Vulcan. The same expected for 2025 “Unless something interesting happens”.This is the launch industry, there are things which are always out of your control. Finishing off the new VIF and MLP, “now we have the ability to build rockets in parallel”. Bruno is pretty confident in getting 9 launches off this year.Bruno expects at 60:40 Government/Commercial payload ratio in 2025, 2026, and 2027.SLC-41The new railroad tracks out to VIF-A should come online this year. The first flights are for @Amazon on Vulcan. The specific dates will be announced by @ProjectKuiper.SLC-3ULA's west coast pad is “coming close to its cycle”. It has been a bit of a battle, as it has experienced shortages in trades people - structural welders, pipe fitters, cryogenics. “Not your average plumbers”. Electricians for high power work, etc. It’s been a challenge.The reason they’ve been in short supply is because everyone in aerospace are building infrastructure. All pulling on the same set of high-skilled technicians. There’s been holdover down in the sub tier supply chain from Covid. Shortages of equipment, such as high power electronics, environmental control systems. ULA had to work through all of that.SLC-3 is 76 - 77% complete. Bruno hopes to have it certified & able to fly from there before the end of the year. The first launches from there are likely to be government launches, and the government will announce when they will occur.📷 @ULAlaunch
ULA CEO Tory Bruno Outlines plans for Vulcan and beyondIn a teleconference ahead of the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) first mission for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) with its Vulcan rocket, President and CEO Tory Bruno shared insights on a range of topics, from SpaceX’s Starship operations at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to ULA’s reuse technologies and future launch infrastructure.
Supply chain of BE-4 engines was once a limiting factor.Where are we now? Do you have a warehouse stacked full of them? Are they arriving just-in-time for install?How long until full operational cadence is reached?
Staying ahead of needSoon
ACES is revived?https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1961123896847147380https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1961141144341155986
From interview all HW for ACES will be tested on Centuar. Centuar V as already moved over from Hydrazine thrusters to H/0 powered thrusters. Next test likely to fly ICE on Centuar and test it after payload has been deployed.By time anything is critical part of US it has already flown as test HW on earlier flight.One of ULA long term goals was in orbit refuelling of US. They can test this once ACES is operational and has endurance to wait for next launch. Next launch's ACES would deploy payload then refuel 1st ACES with its residual fuel.
From interview all HW for ACES will be tested on Centuar. Centuar V as already moved over from Hydrazine thrusters to H/0 powered thrusters.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 08/29/2025 10:02 pmFrom interview all HW for ACES will be tested on Centuar. Centuar V as already moved over from Hydrazine thrusters to H/0 powered thrusters.Based on what? H2-O2 require high pressure that only comes with ICE
Quote from: Jim on 08/29/2025 11:45 pmQuote from: TrevorMonty on 08/29/2025 10:02 pmFrom interview all HW for ACES will be tested on Centuar. Centuar V as already moved over from Hydrazine thrusters to H/0 powered thrusters.Based on what? H2-O2 require high pressure that only comes with ICEBased on image few posts above.
Here’s a shot from the interior of the new VIF. This is the OVI Cell (Off Vehicle Integration). Structure is complete. Now installing the hydrazine, pneumatic and electrical systems. [Aug 6]
It hasn't yet.See this.https://x.com/torybruno/status/1953062455808278994
That OVI cell is in VIF-A, which, being for Amazon, would be flying the LEO-optimized Centaur. The previous graphic shows the LEO-optimized version as continuing to use hydrazine. I'm not sure if a high-energy Centaur would ever go through there.
Quote from: sstli2 on 08/30/2025 10:56 pmThat OVI cell is in VIF-A, which, being for Amazon, would be flying the LEO-optimized Centaur. The previous graphic shows the LEO-optimized version as continuing to use hydrazine. I'm not sure if a high-energy Centaur would ever go through there.a. it is tall enough for one.b. the current Centaur V uses hydrazine.
Quote from: Jim on 08/31/2025 12:28 amQuote from: sstli2 on 08/30/2025 10:56 pmThat OVI cell is in VIF-A, which, being for Amazon, would be flying the LEO-optimized Centaur. The previous graphic shows the LEO-optimized version as continuing to use hydrazine. I'm not sure if a high-energy Centaur would ever go through there.a. it is tall enough for one.b. the current Centaur V uses hydrazine.Correct.High Energy Centaur V won't be switching to H2-O2 for at least a few more years. The required additional Centaur V flight hardware is still under development. The image posted by Tory shows a look into the future; a snapshot of what the Vulcan Centaur system will look like approximately 5 years from now. The view of ACES is, realistically speaking, about 10 years out.Also, I can confirm that the OVI cell in VIF-A is suited to service both HE Centaur V and LEO Centaur V. That's because VIF-A will not be exclusively for Amazon/Kuiper missions, contrary to what some people seem to be claiming. It also serves as back-up for the other VIF. The other VIF in return is back-up for VIF-A.Tory never said that VIF-A would be exclusively for Amazon/Kuiper missions. He said that VIF-A will "mostly" be used for Amazon/Kuiper missions. "Mostly" and "exclusively" are two very different things.
Paying a premiumThe Space Force is paying SpaceX $714 million for the five launches awarded Friday, for an average of roughly $143 million per mission. ULA will receive $428 million for two missions, or $214 million for each launch. That's about 50 percent more expensive than SpaceX's price per mission.
Pentagon contract figures show ULA’s Vulcan rocket is getting more expensiveA close examination of this year's military contracts reveals some interesting things.Stephen Clark – Oct 4, 2025 12:20 PM QuotePaying a premiumThe Space Force is paying SpaceX $714 million for the five launches awarded Friday, for an average of roughly $143 million per mission. ULA will receive $428 million for two missions, or $214 million for each launch. That's about 50 percent more expensive than SpaceX's price per mission.
Thanks @blueorigin. We’ll put these BE4s to good use.
