Lockheed Martin and Boeing will launch a Vulcan rocket without Russian RD-180 engines for the first time in late December

Years of work on the Vulcan rocket have yet to culminate in a first launch. However, there is a small chance that it will launch this year.

Here's What We Know

Lockheed Martin and Boeing have formed a joint venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), to develop the new rocket. Vulcan will be used for US Department of Defence missions. It will be a replacement for Atlas and Delta rockets, which use Russian RD-180 liquid-propellant engines.

The use of Russian propulsion systems was banned by the Donald Trump administration. In addition, Russia has stopped supplying new engines and servicing old ones. In this regard, the national security of the United States is jeopardised, and SpaceX is receiving more and more additional contracts from the Pentagon.

Vulcan is equipped with a Centaur V rocket booster. The rocket's first launch is scheduled for 24 December. Backup dates are 25 and 26 December. At the same time, ULA says that with a high degree of probability the launch will be postponed to January next year.

The launch date is chosen based on the Moon's position relative to the Earth. This is because the Vulcan rocket is expected to deliver a commercial landing module to the Moon on its maiden flight.

Source: @ulalaunch