Vulcan Centaur is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). It is a two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle consisting of the Vulcan first stage and the Centaur V second stage. Replacing ULA's Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, it is principally designed to meet the needs of the National Security Space Launch program.
facts
providerUnited Launch Alliance
countryUSA
classHeavy-lift launch vehicle
payload to LEOkg27,200
reusableno
first flight2024-01-08
flights total4
flights successful4
last flight2026-02-12
price per launchUSD110,000,000
diameterm5.4
crawled events
- notable2026-11-04ULA brings Vulcan payload fairing manufacturing in-house from Beyond Gravity
- notable2026-10-28ULA sets Nov. 13 return to flight for Vulcan after nine-month grounding
- noise2026-08-17ULA names Mark Peller president and CEO, succeeding interim chief Elbon
- notable2026-08-05Blue Origin traces New Glenn pad explosion to BE-4 engine valve
- notable2026-07-24Lockheed Martin guarantees $500 million loan to ULA amid Vulcan grounding
- notable2026-07-21Northrop Grumman takes $91 million more in charges on Vulcan booster program
- notable2026-07-17Space Force triples NSSL Lane 1 launch contract ceiling to $17 billion
- notable2026-07-13NASA moves SunRISE mission from ULA Vulcan to SpaceX Falcon Heavy
- notable2026-07-02GAO flags cost overruns, schedule risk in Space Force satellites
timeline
- 20262026-02-25incidentSpace Force pauses Vulcan national security launches pending SRB anomaly probe (per SpaceNews)as of 2026-07-13
- 2026-02-12incidentVulcan's USSF-87 launch shows a solid rocket booster anomalous burn pattern (per Spaceflight Now)as of 2026-07-13
- 20252025-03-26Space Force certifies Vulcan for national security launchesas of 2026-07-12
- 20242024-10-04ULA launches Vulcan's second certification flight, notes solid booster observationas of 2026-07-12
- 2024-01-08ULA launches Vulcan for the first time on Cert-1 missionas of 2026-07-12
- 20202020-08-07ULA wins NSSL Phase 2 launch services contract for Vulcanas of 2026-07-12
- 20152015-04-13ULA unveils the Vulcan next generation launch systemas of 2026-07-12
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05reusable2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05last flight2026-07-05next flight2026-10-12status2026-07-05diameter (m)2026-07-08
[2] en.wikipedia.org ↗
classwikipedia2026-07-05payload to LEO (kg)wikipedia2026-07-05flights totalwikipedia2026-07-05flights successfulwikipedia2026-07-05price per launch (USD)wikipedia2026-07-05
faq
Who builds Vulcan?
Vulcan is built by United Launch Alliance. as of 2026-07-05
How many times has Vulcan flown?
Vulcan has flown 4 times. as of 2026-07-05
When did Vulcan first fly?
Vulcan first flew on 2024-01-08. as of 2026-07-05
Is Vulcan reusable?
Vulcan is not reusable. as of 2026-07-05