Project Kuiper (Vulcan #1)

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Communications

Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude. 45 satellites will be carried on each Vulcan launch.

Vulcan VC6L

Family: Vulcan
Configuration: VC6L

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.

See Vulcan Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    67.4 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    877 T
  • Thrust
    18110 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vulcan VC6L
  • Family
    Vulcan
  • Variant
    VC6L
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vulcan VC6L
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    27200 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    14500 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    6500 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    23900 kg

United Launch Alliance

Circle Image
CEO: Tory Bruno Founded: 2006 Successes: 161 Failures: 0 Pending: 45

Agency Type: Commercial

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.

INFO WIKI

Related News

The Launch Pad

Vulcan Experiences Anomaly During Test, Maiden Flight Delayed

ULA has experienced an anomaly during testing of a Vulcan Centaur 2nd stage, and an investigation is underway.

Arstechnica

Rocket Report: ULA Centaur stage has an ‘anomaly,’ Virgin Orbit funding is dire

"This is why we thoroughly & rigorously exercise every possible condition on the ground."

Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

Space Launch Complex 41


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 4 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-52
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

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


Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 5 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-51
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 2D
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4 days, 22 hours ago
SuperView Neo 3-01
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Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 6-49
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
USSF-62
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

First Weather System Follow-on (WSF) satellite. WSF-M (Weather System Follow-on - Microwave) is the next-generation operational environmental sate…


Angara A5/Blok DM-03
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Vostochny Angara Test Flight
Cosmodrome Site 1A - Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation

First test launch of the Angara A5 launch vehicle from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The rocket will carry a mass simulator payload.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 2 days ago
Starlink Group 6-48
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Delta IV Heavy
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
NROL-70
Space Launch Complex 37B - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

Classified payload for the NRO. Last flight of the Delta IV Heavy rocket.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 5 days ago
Bandwagon 1 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Dedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Starlink Group 8-1
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.