Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2014. It is principally designed to meet launch demands for the U.S. government's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program for use by the United States Space Force and U.S. intelligence agencies for national security satellite launches. It will replace both of ULA's existing launchers (Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy) in this role, as these launchers are retiring.
Specifications
- Thrust
- 9,303 kN
- Height
- 61.6 m
- Diameter
- 5.4 m
- Launch mass
- 663 t
- Stages
- 2
- Launch cost
- —
- LEO capacity
- 19,000 kg
- GTO capacity
- 8,400 kg
- GEO capacity
- 2,600 kg
- SSO capacity
- 15,200 kg
Vehicle specifications from Launch Library; blanks are unpublished figures.
Flight record
Flights
2
Launches with a definitive outcome
Success rate
100%
2 of 2
Current success streak
2
Landings
0
0 attempts · 0 droneship / 0 RTLS
Fastest turnaround
—
Between consecutive booster flights
Counted from padside's own launch record — the same basis as the Stats page.