Vulcan Centaur Vehicle Overview
A complete overview of the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, including launch stats, vehicle info and launch locations.
Basic Info
Name
Vulcan Centaur
Family
Vulcan
Manufacturer
First Launch
8 Jan 2024
Successful Launches
1
Failed Launches
0
Rocket Info (Vulcan VC2S)
Status
Active
Reusability
Not Reusable
The Vulcan Centaur is an American heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA), intended to meet a variety of commercial, governmental, and scientific mission requirements. This two-stage rocket inherits technological and structural elements from its predecessors, the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, aiming to offer improved performance and flexibility. Its first stage is powered by two BE-4 engines, utilizing liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen, while the Centaur upper stage employs RL10 engines with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for propulsion. The Vulcan Centaur stands out for its adaptability, featuring a configurable payload fairing and the capability to host multiple payloads, catering to a range of mission profiles.
Launch Sites used by Vulcan Centaur
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Historic U.S. military rocket launch site, pivotal in space exploration and national security.
Vandenberg SFB
U.S. Space Force facility in California for spacecraft launches and missile testing.