ULA’s Vulcan rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral on 8 January, launching the Peregrine lunar lander into a trans-lunar injection orbit. (ULA)

United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched its first Vulcan launch vehicle the morning of 8 January, paving the way for a slate of national security, scientific, and private launches.

The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-41 at 0218 h local time. Vulcan launched in the VC2S configuration, with two GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters and a standard 5.4 m (17.7 ft) payload fairing.

While Vulcan’s second stage is powered by two Aerojet Rocketdyne RL-10C engines, which have powered over 400 flights, the 8 January launch was the first orbital flight for the first stage’s two Blue Origin BE-4 engines.

Although Vulcan injected its payload, Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine lunar lander, into its planned trans-lunar injection orbit, a propellant leak aboard the spacecraft led the company to abort its intended moon landing. Peregrine is performing limited operations, gathering data and testing components to inform future missions.