Vulcan VC2S

Active

United Launch Alliance (ULA)

Jan. 8, 2024

Description

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
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    61.6 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    663 T
  • Thrust
    9303 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vulcan VC2S
  • Family
  • Variant
    VC2S
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vulcan VC2S
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    19000 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    8400 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    2600 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    15200 kg

United Launch Alliance

Commercial
CEO: Tory Bruno
ULA 2006

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

Upcoming Spaceflights


Vulcan VC2S | Certification Flight 2

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
TBD September, 2024
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

Replacement Vulcan test launch with inert payload, experiments, and demonstrations for certification with the USSF after delays caused by payload testing of the Sierra Space Dreamchaser CRS SNC-1 mission, the original planned payload.

Low Earth Orbit
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Vulcan VC2S | Peregrine lunar lander (Maiden flight)

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Jan. 8, 2024, 7:18 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Maiden flight of ULA's Vulcan launch vehicle carrying the Peregrine lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology. Astrobotic was selected by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to deliver up to 14 NASA payloads to the Moon on its Peregrine lunar lander in 2022.

Lunar Orbit
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201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

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Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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6 days, 1 hour ago
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A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.