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
- 18,110 kN
- Height
- 67.4 m
- Diameter
- 5.4 m
- Launch mass
- 877 t
- Stages
- 2
- Launch cost
- —
- LEO capacity
- 27,200 kg
- GTO capacity
- 15,300 kg
- GEO capacity
- 7,000 kg
- SSO capacity
- 23,900 kg
Vehicle specifications from Launch Library; blanks are unpublished figures.
Flight record
Flights
0
Launches with a definitive outcome
Success rate
—
0 of 0
Current success streak
0
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.
Launches
Next: Vulcan VC6L | Amazon Leo (LV-01) — September 30, 2026
No completed launches on record yet.