Matthew Nelson
United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno has said the company began to produce the initial flight hardware for the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle.
He noted during a media event held at the 35th Space Symposium that ULA applied capabilities from its Delta and Atlas platforms when designing the new rocket, the company said Monday.
"Many of Vulcan Centaur’s major components will be flown first on Atlas V missions such as the solid rocket boosters, avionics, software, upper-stage engine and payload fairings," Bruno added.
Representatives from Northrop Grumman, Dynetics, Blue Origin, L3 Technologies, RUAG and Aerojet Rocketdyne participated in a panel discussion at the event and shared information about their efforts to support Vulcan Centaur development and testing efforts.
ULA aims to launch the rocket by 2021 to support national security space missions.
