Sun sets on Vulcan Centaur as NASA moves SunRISE to SpaceX Falcon Heavy
Solar observatory awaits a new launch date after its original ride hit booster trouble
NASA has performed a rocket switcheroo and will launch its SunRISE mission on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy instead of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur on which it was originally booked to fly.
The mission is flying as a rideshare sponsored by the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command, which might go some way to explaining the decision to change the launch vehicle.
In February, the fourth Vulcan Centaur flight experienced a booster anomaly during a US Space Force launch. The payload made it to orbit, but a burn-through of a Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) nozzle made the trip more eventful than planned.
Space Force reportedly paused all national security launches on the Vulcan Centaur until the investigation was complete and appropriate corrective action taken.
This left SunRISE in a pickle as it...
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