"Christmas Eve Launch Bonanza: ULA's Vulcan Centaur and Astrobotic's Lunar Lander Set to Soar"
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is targeting Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023, for the debut launch of its new Vulcan Centaur rocket. The mission, known as Certification-1 (Cert-1), will send the Peregrine lunar lander on its first-ever mission to the moon. The Vulcan Centaur rocket features two BE-4 engines built by Blue Origin and two RL10 engines manufactured by Aerojet Rocketdyne. It can also be equipped with solid rocket boosters for increased thrust. Originally planned for May, the launch was delayed due to an explosion during testing. ULA is now preparing for the launch, which is less than two months away.