Vulcan VC4L

Active

United Launch Alliance (ULA)

None

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
    67.4 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    770.0 T
  • Thrust
    13706.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vulcan VC4L
  • Family
  • Variant
    VC4L
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vulcan VC4L
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    24600.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    11700.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    4900.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    20000.0 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 VC4L | Dream Chaser CRS 2 Flight 1

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
TBD December, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

First flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane, on a free-flying mission in Low Earth Orbit.

Low Earth Orbit
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Vulcan VC4L | Dream Chaser CRS 2 Flight 2

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
TBD December, 2027
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

Second flight of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane. It may dock to the ISS depending on results from Flight 1.

Low Earth Orbit
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Falcon 9
Success
4 hours, 55 minutes ago
Starlink Group 6-94
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Electron
Success
16 hours, 7 minutes ago
Prometheus Run (VAN)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C) - Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA

Sub-orbital launch under Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program. This mission was lead by MDA and deployed a…


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 23 hours ago
Sentinel-6B
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (launched November 2020) and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 22 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-85
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 1 hour ago
Starlink Group 6-89
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.