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Vulcan Centaur
61.6m
Human (1.8m)
1.8m
Vulcan Centaur / Credits: Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons)
United StatesActive2024–2026
Vulcan Centaur
United Launch Alliance
ULA's next-generation heavy lifter, replacing both Atlas V and Delta IV.
Vulcan Centaur is powered by two Blue Origin BE-4 methane engines and uses an upgraded Centaur V upper stage with two RL10 engines. It's designed primarily for U.S. national security missions but also carries commercial and lunar payloads.
Fun facts
Vulcan's first flight in 2024 carried the Peregrine lunar lander — unfortunately the lander suffered a propulsion anomaly.
Vulcan replaces both Atlas V and Delta IV, consolidating ULA's fleet into a single platform.
Its BE-4 engines are made by Blue Origin — an unusual case of one space company being a customer of its rival.
Height
61.6 m
Diameter
5.4 m
Mass
546 t
Stages
2
Thrust
4,894 kN
Payload LEO
27,200 kg
Payload GTO
14,400 kg
Total flights
4
Success rate100.0%
4 success0 failure
No upcoming launches scheduled.
