Atlas V rocket (Photo : Reuters)
United Launch Alliance revealed its newest rocket, a combination of the best characteristics of both its Delta and Atlas rockets, in an aim of broadening mission capabilities, lowering costs, and increasing power.
"Vulcan," the name of the mashup rocket, was a result of an online election that drew more than a million votes. The new rocket's main features include the capability of recycling hydrogen and oxygen to power subsystems and recoverable engines with supercharged boosters.
Tony Bruno, ULA chief executive officer, during the 31st Space Symposium held in Colorado said, "It's going to take the best parts of the Delta and Atlas and combine them with new and advanced technology, I came to ULA to transform our company and make the space much more accessible than it has ever been before. This new rocket is a key part of that vision."
The core stage of the new rocket is powered by a Blue Origin BE-4 engine fed by liquefied natural gas. This design is part of a country's aim to end reliance on Russian-built RD-180 engines that have power Atlas V for a long time. There are six rockets, solid boosters to be added to Vulcan, with each booster bearing more than the amount available on Atlas flights.
Bruno has also said that Vulcan come with larger, more powerful tanks for fuel to take optimum advantage of its BE-4s that has the capacity to produce more than 550, 000 pounds worth of thrust with each one making 1.1 million, according to a ULA launch guide.
ULA is hoping that Vulcan will provide the company its rightful position to enter the reusable rocket market. Rather than attempting to put back the rocket's first stage booster, ULA has decided to just aim for the engines, the Planetary Society wrote.
