CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A United Launch Alliance booster engine test firing Wednesday was deemed a success, the company announced. The test was at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla.
The engine start sequence began at T-4.88 seconds, the engines throttled up to the target level for two seconds and then powered down, the company said. The entire flight readiness firing lasted for six seconds.
“We are more than 98% complete with the Vulcan qualification program,” ULA said in a news release. “The remaining items are associated with the final Centaur V testing. The team is reviewing the data from the systems involved in today’s test and, in parallel, continue with the Centaur V test stand anomaly investigation.”
The successful test had a North Alabama influence, as well. The Vulcan is manufactured at ULA’s plant in Decatur and the twin booster BE-4 engines are made by Blue Origin in Huntsville.
The test marked a day of launch timelines and procedures, propellant loading operations and the countdown through ignition of the engines, made by Blue Origin in Huntsville The FRF is a functional test of the ground systems, software, first stage and engines.
