Vulcan Centaur
Next-generation heavy launcher with BE-4 methane engines and Centaur V high-energy upper stage.
Vulcan Centaur is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA) to replace both the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy product lines. Powered by dual Blue Origin BE-4 methane/oxygen engines on the booster and the cryogenic Centaur V upper stage, Vulcan provides high-energy payload capability for critical US National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions and commercial satellite operators.
SpaceStats Reliability & Flight Record
Architecture Analysis & Development Story
Engineering DossierHistory & Development
Designed to end American dependence on the Russian RD-180 engine used on Atlas V, Vulcan Centaur made its flawless inaugural flight (Cert-1) on January 8, 2024, deploying the Peregrine lunar lander and Celestis memorial payload. A second certification flight (Cert-2) in October 2024 cleared the vehicle for national security certification.
Operational Record & Mission Impact
Selected for major national security space launch contracts with the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), as well as dedicated launch contracts for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband satellite constellation.
Key Engineering Innovations & Design Highlights
Two Blue Origin BE-4 oxygen-rich staged combustion engines burning Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG/Methane) and LOX.
Centaur V upper stage with dual Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1-1 engines, offering unmatched cryogenic efficiency (453.8s Isp).
Modular solid rocket booster configurations (0, 2, 4, or 6 Northrop Grumman GEM-63XL strap-ons).
Orthogrid aluminum-lithium tanks with advanced foam thermal insulation for multi-hour coast phases.
Technical & Propulsion Specifications
Operator: United Launch AllianceVehicle Dimensions & Mass
- Overall Height
- 61.6 m
- Body Diameter
- 5.4 m
- Gross Lift-off Mass
- 546 t
- Stages Count
- 2
- Fairing Diameter
- 5.4 m
- Strap-On Boosters
- 4x Boosters
Vulcan Booster Core
- Main Engines
- 2x BE-4
- Propellant
- LOX / LNG (Methane)
- SL Thrust
- 4,800 kN
- Vacuum Isp
- 339s
- Dry Mass
- 32 t
- Recovery Mode
- None
Centaur V High-Energy Upper Stage
- Upper Engine
- 2x RL10C-1-1
- LEO Capacity
- 27.2 t
- GTO Capacity
- 15.3 t
- TLI (Lunar)
- 12.1 t
- Cost per Launch
- $110,000,000
- LEO Price / kg
- ~$4,044 / kg
Launch Complexes & Spaceports Network
2 Active Launch PadsMilestone & Historic Missions
Key Flight AchievementsVulcan Cert-1
Customer: Astrobotic / NASA CLPS
Inaugural flight of Vulcan Centaur successfully injecting Peregrine Mission One toward trans-lunar orbit.
High-Resolution Photo Gallery & Media
3 photos & renders of Vulcan Centaur with verified copyright credits
Vulcan Centaur Maiden Flight Liftoff
United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur VC2S launching the Peregrine lunar lander on Cert-1 from SLC-41.
Vulcan Centaur Rollout to SLC-41
Vulcan Centaur rolling out from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
Vulcan Centaur on Launch Complex 41
United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur standing on the launch table at Space Launch Complex 41.
SpaceStats Launch Manifest & Database
0 mission records cataloged in database
No individual manifest entries logged in database for Vulcan Centaur.
Summary stats and flight achievements are detailed in the overview above.