Critical launch for Vulcan as ULA targets Friday the 13th

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has set November 13 for a return to flight with a Vulcan launch, which will carry 40 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit. The Vulcan will be powered by a pair of BE-4 engines and six Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), and a Centaur V second stage. This mission is significant as it is the first Vulcan launch for Amazon since eight deployments with ULA's Atlas V, and also the first since a performance anomaly in the previous US Space Force launch where an SRB burned through its nozzle.

Despite this issue, the US Space Force payload successfully reached orbit, prompting an investigation. ULA has since made improvements to the nozzle design and will utilize the improved design in this upcoming launch. This launch marks a significant increase in Vulcan launches for Amazon compared to the eight Atlas V launches performed by ULA for Amazon Leo.

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