Back فولكان سنتور Arabic Vulcan Centaur BE-X-OLD Vulcan (raketa) Czech Vulcan (Rakete) German Vulcan (cohete) Spanish Vulcan Centaur Estonian ولکان قنطورس Persian Vulcan (raketti) Finnish Vulcan (fusée) French Vulcan (roket) ID

Vulcan Centaur

This article is about the American Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle by ULA. Not to be confused with the Russian Vulkan-Hercules concept launch vehicle or the European Vulcain rocket engine. For other uses, see Vulcan.

Vulcan Centaur
Vulcan Centaur in VC2S configuration ahead of its maiden flight
FunctionLaunch vehicle, partial reusable planned
ManufacturerUnited Launch Alliance
Country of originUnited States
Cost per launchApprox. US$100–200 million[1][2]
Size
Height61.6 m (202 ft)[3]
Diameter5.4 m (18 ft)[4]
Mass546,700 kg (1,205,300 lb)
Stages2 with 0, 2, 4 or 6 boosters
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit (28.7°)
Mass27,200 kg (60,000 lb)[5]
Payload to geostationary transfer orbit (27.0°)
Mass15,300 kg (33,700 lb),[5]
Payload to geostationary orbit
Mass7,000 kg (15,000 lb)[5]
Payload to trans-lunar injection
Mass12,100 kg (26,700 lb)[5]
Launch history
StatusOperational
Launch sites
Total launches1
Success(es)1
First flight8 January 2024[7]
Boosters
No. boosters0, 2, 4, or 6[8]
Powered byGEM-63XL[9]
Maximum thrust2,201.7 kN (495,000 lbf)
PropellantHTPB, Al / AP
First stage
Diameter5.4 m (18 ft)
Powered by2 × BE-4
Maximum thrust4,900 kN (1,100,000 lbf)
PropellantCH4 / LOX
Second stage – Centaur V
Diameter5.4 m (18 ft)
Powered by2 × RL10[10]
Maximum thrust212 kN (48,000 lbf)[11]
Specific impulse453.8 s (4.450 km/s)[11]
PropellantLH2 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, expendable, heavy-lift launch vehicle created and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). It is principally designed for the United States Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which launches satellites for the Defense Department and U.S. intelligence agencies. It will replace ULA's existing heavy-lift Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy rockets. Vulcan Centaur will also be used for commercial launches, including an order for 38 launches from Kuiper Systems.

Development of the Vulcan rocket started in 2014, largely in response to growing competition from SpaceX and a requirement to phase out the Russian RD-180 engine used on the Atlas V, with an inaugural flight slated for 2019.[2] After multiple delays over five years, which included problems with the development of the BE-4 engine and the new Centaur upper stage,[12] Vulcan Centaur launched the first time on 8 January 2024. The maiden flight carried Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lunar lander, the first mission of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.[13]

  1. ^ Clark, Stephen. "ULA needs commercial customers to close Vulcan rocket business case". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b Shalal, Andrea; Klotz, Irene (13 April 2015). "'Vulcan' rocket launch in 2019 may end U.S. dependence on Russia". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Vulcan Centaur Cutaway Poster" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. ^ Peller, Mark. "United Launch Alliance" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Vulcan". United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  6. ^ Clark, Stephen (12 October 2015). "ULA selects launch pads for new Vulcan rocket". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  7. ^ Robinson-Smith, Will (21 December 2023). "ULA stacks Vulcan rocket for the first time ahead of Jan. 8 debut launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference brunojul1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Rhian, Jason (23 September 2015). "ULA selects Orbital ATK's GEM 63/63XL SRBs for Atlas V and Vulcan Boosters". Spaceflight Insider. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  10. ^ "United Launch Alliance Selects Aerojet Rocketdyne's RL10 Engine". ULA. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 Propulsion System" (PDF). Aerojet Rocketdyne. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  12. ^ Eric Berger (5 January 2024). "As Vulcan nears debut, it's not clear whether ULA will live long and prosper". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  13. ^ Jeff Foust (8 January 2024). "Vulcan Centaur launches Peregrine lunar lander on inaugural mission". Spacenews. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.

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