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Vulcan·United Launch Alliance

Vulcan VC4S

active
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Specifications

Status
active
First flight
2025-08-13
Total launches
2
Success / Fail
2 / 0

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.

Propulsion

Boosters

2×GEM 631,663 kN
solid (HTPB) · solid
Northrop GrummanIsp 279s (vac)since 20200–6 strap-ons

First stage

2×BE-42,400 kN
CH4 / LOX · staged-combustion
Blue OriginIsp 340s (vac)since 2024

Second stage

2×RL10110 kN
LH2 / LOX · expander
Aerojet RocketdyneIsp 451s (vac)since 1963Centaur V

Payloads it launched

17 loaded
2026-027F
LEO
2026-027G
LEO
2026-027A
LEO
2026-027C
LEO
2026-027E
LEO
2026-027D
LEO
2026-027B
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-61
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-58
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-60
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-67
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-64
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-66
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-63
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-59
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-65
LEO
HULIANWANG DIGUI-62
LEO